Autistic spectrum disorder: understand what it is – 04/11/2023 – Health

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You must have seen it in a movie or series, heard a report or known someone who has a family member with autistic spectrum disorder.

In recent years, diagnoses of autism have grown in Brazil and worldwide. Reasons abound to talk about it. Let’s start with a definition.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? A set of conditions that affect development, with three characteristics that can appear in different proportions, together or in isolation: speech disorders, difficulty socializing, and repetitive and stereotyped behavior.

Autism does not have a single diagnosis. The first manifestations may appear in childhood, but there are also cases of diagnoses in adult life.

The “size” of the spectrum can vary according to the level of developmental impairment, from the mildest to the most severe.

Why do we have more cases? In recent years, advances in diagnostic medicine and also greater awareness on the subject have led to an expansion of what is now considered the spectrum, thus reflecting on the increase in cases of autism.

• 1 in 36 (2.8%) children up to eight years old in the US are diagnosed with TEA, according to a study carried out by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), with data from 2020;

• The fee was in 1 in 44 (2.3%) in 2019 and was about 1 in 150 children (0.7%) in 2007.

The proportion also varies by state, reaching 1 in 22 (4.5%) children in California, which may be related to increased awareness and the types of tests available locally.

There are no national data on the incidence of autism in Brazil, but estimates by PAHO, the Pan American arm of the WHO (World Health Organization), point to an average of 1 in 160 children (0.6%).

What are the signs? Symptoms can appear up to three years old, with special attention during the first months of life. Here are six signs that can help identify possible cases in children:

1. Lack of eye contact;

2. Difficulty interacting socially;

3. Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors (for example, rocking the body back and forth repeatedly)

4. Behaviors of arranging objects by color or order for no apparent reason;

5. Difficulty understanding the events around you;

6. Difficulty responding when called.

Important: these signs may be indications, but they are not conclusive. The definitive diagnosis is given with the combination of clinical analysis by a specialist together with specific genetic tests.

Experts today believe that autistic disorder has genetic causes. For that reason, there is no cure for the condition.

In recent years, significant advances have been made in terms of available treatments and therapies. However, as variable as the spectrum is, the therapies suggested for each patient are individualized and there is no single treatment option.

Doctors recommend specific follow-up for each case, with a multidisciplinary team and with care to provide the best possible integration for the child.

A hint: journalist Johanna Nublat is the mother of an autistic child and author of the blog Vidas Atípicas. I recommend reading for anyone who wants to know more about autism and child development.

Science to live better

News and studies on health and well-being

• A study published in the journal Nature Medicine with 200 participants found that practicing so-called intermittent fasting for at least three days, when food consumption only occurs in a period from 8 am to 12 am, reduced the onset of type 2 diabetes in adults. There was also a significant reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol level in fasting practitioners compared to control subjects.

• According to an analysis published in the BMJ journal, consumption of sugary foods and beverages was associated with worse health outcomes in all aspects, in particular: higher incidence of overweight, higher rate of fat accumulation in the abdominal region, increase in type 2, higher risk of cardiovascular disease (including coronary artery disease), increased all-cause mortality, and depression.

• A review of clinical studies published in the journal Brain and Behavior found that phototherapy (using light as therapy) helped improve cognitive function in 476 patients with dementia. The types of light used in phototherapy included LED lights, white, blue and green, for a variable duration of 6 to 120 minutes. The same study found no evidence of phototherapy for improving sleep quality or reducing depression.