Autism significantly more prevalent than previously thought. One month later, the facts in the Trayvon Martin story still unclear. A scientific look at the risks and rewards of yoga.
Autism significantly more prevalent than previously thought
The number of U.S. kids with autism has skyrocketed 78 percent since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new CDC numbers released today indicate that one in 88 American children is now on the autism spectrum, based on a 2008 snapshot of 14 monitoring sites. Among boys, it’s one in 54.
Dr. Larry Yin, medical director of the Boone-Fetter Clinic in the Institute of the Developing Mind at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, said it’s difficult to say what’s driving the increase. He attributes rising numbers partly to better tools for diagnosis, earlier recognition of the signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and the changing criteria of ASD over time. Yin added that there’s also a broad range of prevalence among the 14 sites surveyed.
“I think what these numbers really represent is more children are being identified. I think that the range of prevalence across the sites—you can say this isn’t really representative of the United States as a whole,” he said.
Pediatrician, book author and child health advocate Dr. Ari Brown agreed that people analyzing the study should be wary of what the numbers mean.
“They weren’t divided by subtype, which is really important. You’re taking children on what’s called ASD. You have some children who are severely affected on one end and some who are mildly affected on the other,” she said. “If you look at numbers, you have a much higher percentage of children who are mildly who are affected. Which menas they do have communication skills. They are atypical, but they’re talking and cognitively a lot of these kids have normal IQs.”
However, Dr. Yin explained that there are visible correlations researchers can glean from the five years that the study has been going on. Correlation with maternal age, the age a child is born and some questions about the environment as well.
Geri Dawson, the Chief Science Officer for the advocacy group Autism Speaks, said “The CDC’s new estimate of autism prevalence demands that we recognize autism as a public health emergency warranting immediate attention. More than ever, these numbers compel us to redouble our investment in the research that can reveal causes, validate effective treatments and guide the effective delivery of services to all our communities.”
Dr. Brown concluded that drawing attention to the problem is more important than teasing out numbers perfectly. “At the end of the day, what’s important is that it’s common, we need to diagnose it earlier, and we need to know that services for these kids are covered (by insurance),” she continued. “If this is going to broaden awareness so that parents are more likely to bring questions up to their doctors so that they can be accessed earlier, that’s terrific. I just don’t want them to be scared by the numbers.”
What are the most likely culprits behind this rapid rise? Do we have an epidemic on our hands? What can and should be done about it?
Guests:
Dr. Larry Yin, is the medical director of the Boone-Fetter Clinic in the Institute of the Developing Mind at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Dr. Ari Brown, M.D., FAAP, is a pediatrician, book author and child health advocate; Dr. Brown's pediatric residency and developmental pediatrics fellowship were at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital. She practices full-time in Austin, TX.
One month later, the facts in the Trayvon Martin story still unclear
As new evidence of 911 calls and eye-witness testimonies trickle in, new questions arise about the shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman.
What we do know is that on February 26th, 17-year old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida by George Zimmerman, a 28-year old neighborhood watch volunteer. Unfortunately, there is so little reliable information known about what led up to the shooting, that rampant speculations have been made and conclusions have been drawn by the public, the media, and even those closely involved in the case.
In the beginning of the media attention surrounding the incident, many jumped to the conclusion that George Zimmerman could not have acted in self-defense but in the days following the initial reports, testimony challenging this interpretation of the facts has come out. And yet in an information vacuum, where no one seems to know what happened except the parties involved, we each create our own narrative.
Does our projection of the facts become a reflection of who we are and what we believe rather than a rational explication of the truth? In a case like this when so little is really known, how do we make judgments about the truth or falsehood, right or wrong?
GUEST
Michael Bender, Reporter Bloomberg News
A scientific look at the risks and rewards of yoga
In their quest for fitness and spiritual bliss, yoga devotees twist themselves into various poses like Downward Facing Dog, Warrior II and Crow. But what do the millions of modern practitioners of this ancient practice really know about what yoga can and can’t do to heal the mind and body?
In "The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards," award-winning New York Times science writer and longtime yogi William J. Broad delves into decades of research and history on the meditative practice, exploring the benefits and dismantling the myths. Broad interviewed a variety of experts including scientists, healers and yogis, and visited ashrams and medical centers throughout the United States, Canada and India, where yoga originated as part of an obscure, erotically focused cult. The path to yogic nirvana isn’t without pitfalls.
According to Broad, yoga has been touted as a way to lose weight, but it actually lowers metabolism, prompting daily practitioners to burn fewer calories. Yoga has also produced massive injuries, including brain damage and lung rupturing. On the upside, Broad found that new studies show yoga releases natural substances in the brain that act as powerful antidepressants, and that certain poses can prompt arousal through the release of sex hormones.
Broad winds his way into the AirTalk studio to talk with Larry about yoga’s truths and myths. How’s your yoga practice? Are those sun salutations working for or against you? Namaste everyone.
Guest:
William J. Broad, Author of "The Science of Yoga: The Risks and The Rewards" (Simon & Schuster); science writer at The New York Times, who with colleagues has twice won the Pulitzer Prize, as well as an Emmy and a DuPont
Broad will talk about and sign copies of "The Science of Yoga, on March 30th at 7pm at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena.