A news study shows that it may one day be possible to detect [yadawiki link="Autism Spectrum Disorder" show="Autism"] with a blood test. Shaun Heasley tells how researchers may have discovered unique identifiers in blood that signal Autism may be present in the subject.
The study involved blood samples collected from 83 children with autism and 76 neurotypical children ages 3 to 10 at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Rather than examining one particular gene or a single biomarker, researchers used big data techniques to take a broader look in order to find statistically significant patterns.
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This could be a major breakthrough in detecting Autism earlier in children. Time will tell if this will be effective. What is your opinion? Share it below in the comments.
Autism and popular culture have had a complicated relationship for a long time. In 1988 the film Rain Man introduced the disorder to the general public. After its release diagnoses in the United States skyrocketed, and so did the presence of autistic characters in pop culture. In the 1980’s there were only two films starring autistic characters. In the next decade there were thirteen. The older the movie or book or show, the less autistic the characters often seem, some of them carry the label ‘autistic’ but with very few symptoms. Instead, the characters are inflicted with some generic mental disability, which when labeled as autism sells more tickets.
