News for the Special Education Community
Dysfunctional mitochondria in brain cells can result in learning disabilities, according to a new study in Molecular Cell. The association between dysfunctional mitochondria and Parkinson’s disease has been known, but this new study, led by neuroscientist Patrik Verstreken of VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and KU Leuven, has revealed that it is also present in [...]
Identification and treatment issues surrounding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are challenging enough. Now research is shedding light on long-term outcomes for people with ADHD. A recent study in Pediatrics reports that men who had ADHD in childhood are twice as likely to be obese in middle age, even if they no longer exhibit symptoms [...]
If you or someone you care about is among the one in five people affected by dyslexia-a disability that makes reading difficult-there may be good news for you. Those struggling to manage the condition can now find hope in the 1in5 Initiative, a new campaign to drive greater public awareness of dyslexia through online PSAs [...]
by Sarah Glynn – The association between dysfunctional mitochondria and Parkinson’s disease has been known, but this new study, led by neuroscientist Patrik Verstreken of VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and KU Leuven, has revealed that it is also present in other disorders of the brain. Patrik Verstreken (VIB / KU Leuven) said: ”This discovery shows [...]
by Rachael Rettner – People with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who take certain medications over long periods may develop changes in their brains that ultimately impact their ability to respond to the drugs, a new study suggests. In the study, adults with ADHD had higher levels of a protein called a dopamine transporter in their [...]
by Amy Oshier – The rise in cases of ADHD caught health officials off guard. But not parents, it comes up at children’s schools, play grounds and whenever a group of moms and dads get together. “It may just be a cause of today’s technology with kids being in front of iPads and iPhones, tablets, [...]
by Christie Rizk – Breastfeeding is generally thought to be healthier for newborn babies than bottle feeding. According to a new study published today in Breastfeeding Medicine, breastfeeding may even keep children from developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as they get older. There are generally three ADHD subtypes, with patients classified as either primarily inattentive, [...]
by Charles Bankhead – Parent- and teacher-reported rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder do not appear to overestimate the true prevalence of the condition, according to a new analysis of a large children’s health study. The ADHD prevalence in California was found to be about 6% among children 4 to 17, and 4.7% among insured children ages 5 [...]
by Lydia Zuraw – Children with autism see simple movements twice as fast as other children their age, a new study finds. Researchers at Vanderbilt University and the University of Rochester were looking to test a common theory about autism which holds that overwhelming sensory stimulation inhibits other brain functions. The researchers figured they could [...]
The stimulant drug methylphenidate “normalizes” activation of several brain areas in young patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a review published in the May Harvard Review of Psychiatry. Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show increased activation of key brain areas after a dose of methylphenidate in young patients with ADHD, according to [...]
