Autism Therapy: genetic syndrome

definition of genetic syndrome: not yet defined.

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Intranasal Insulin to Improve the Developmental Delay in Children with 22q13 Deletion Syndrome: An Exploratory Clinical Trial
Journal of Medical Genetics, by Schmidt, H., Kern W., Giese R., Hallschmid M., and Enders A., published in 2009, summarized May 5, 2009

Intranasal insulin may help some children with autism move better and gain IQ points.

This study was designed to see if squirting insulin into the nose (intranasal) of children with a type of autism (Phelan-McDermid syndrome) would help with the symptoms of autism. The trial involved six children who were treated with intranasal insulin for up to one year. The children were different ages (9 months to 6.5 years) and had different symptoms of the syndrome. Patient three was the least impaired patient (age 3) and she was the only one who had a bad response to the treatment. The authors do not know why the intranasal insulin helped the children.


Acquired Variant of Rett’s Disorder and Response to Lamotrigine
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, by Mendhekar, DN, and Duggal HS, published in 2007, summarized Jun 3, 2008

Lamotrigine may help with some of the mood, behavior, and social problems that can be symptoms of autism.

Although Rett's Disorder is normally a genetic syndrome, this letter describes a 5-year-old girl who acquired the symptoms of Rett Syndrome after an infection. After the brain fever (encephalitis), the girl acquired many of the symptoms of autism, but she did not have seizures. The doctors gave her lamotrigine and found that she had less hand flapping and other autistic behaviors. While the lamotrigine is normally given to help with seizures, other studies have shown that it can help with social behavior, temper tantrums, and emotional problems. For these reasons, lamotrigine is sometimes prescribed to people with autism or people with epilepsy who have symptoms of autism.


Co-Occurrence of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Phenomenology and Treatment
Expert Rev Neurotherapeutics, by Reiersen, AM, and Todd RD, published in 2008, summarized Jun 2, 2008

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) may help children who have both autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Children with autism and ADHD can be hard to treat. This review article describes the few research studies that look at treatments for children with both ADHD and autism. In most cases, standard ADHD drugs (methylphenidate and atomoxetine) are used to treat children with autism and ADHD symptoms. One study looked at autism and ADHD and found that methylphenidate did help children with both autism and ADHD. Children with the 22q11 deletion genetic syndrome may have both ADHD and autism and they can also be treated with methylphenidate.


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