Episode 4 - Is Autism Research Failing Us? A Conversation with Alycia Halladay, PhD

Alycia Halladay, PhD, is Chief Science Officer of Autism Science Foundation and has years of experience working to promote and fund autism research. NCSA President Jill Escher talks with her about progress -- and lack thereof -- in autism research over the past 30 years.

Highlights:

• 30 years ago scientists assumed they could find singular causes and treatments for autism, but the reality turned out to be far more complicated. Autism is many different disorders with different underlying causes and biology.

• Though many areas of autism research have seen slow progress, we've seen improvements in early identification, early intervention, and genetics.

• To improve research it's very important to create meaningful subgroups of autism where there is sufficient homogeneity to assess etiologies (causes), biological phenomena and treatment response.

• The recent Lancet Commission report emphasized practical needs of individuals and families, over basic biology, and introduced "profound autism" as a way to carve out a subgroup of patients needing near-continuous care.

• There is no question that autism prevalence is growing, and it's not just about better recognition.

• Gene-environment interaction is a key question for autism research.

• For families with children with a mutation, such as that in Phelan McDermid Syndrome, genetic findings can be life-changing.

• We need to invest in tools that enable the detection of environmental influences on autism risk.

• We have not made progress when it comes to treatment of core symptoms of autism; some progress for co-morbid conditions such as anxiety and sleeplessness.

• To enable more research on cannabis products we need to move cannabis from DEA Schedule 1 to Schedule 2.

Links:

Autism Science Foundation http://autismsciencefoundation.org

Autism Science Foundation Podcast https://asfpodcast.org

Recent paper:

Volk HE, Ames JL, Chen A, Fallin MD, Hertz-Picciotto I, Halladay A, Hirtz D, Lavin A, Ritz B, Zoeller T, Swanson M. Considering Toxic Chemicals in the Etiology of Autism. Pediatrics. 2022 Jan 1;149(1).

About

Autism Confidential (AutismConfidential.org) is a production of the National Council on Severe Autism. NCSAutism.org.

All views expressed on Autism Confidential are those of the individual speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of NCSA or its board of directors. The podcast is for informational purposes only and does not offer any medical or legal advice.

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