Autism research led by scientists at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has been named one of the top ten medical breakthroughs of 2009 by Time Magazine.

On the magazine’s website on Dec. 8, Time cited the largest-ever genetic study of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), published in April in the journal Nature, by a group led by Hakon Hakonarson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Applied Genomics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. That study identified DNA variations that account for as many as 15 percent of all ASD cases. Because the gene region affects how brain cells connect with each other in early childhood, the research significantly advances the understanding of how the child behavior problem of autism originates.

“We are proud of this research discovery, and are glad to see it receive this recognition,” said Philip R. Johnson, M.D., chief scientific officer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “It provides a starting point for translating biological knowledge into future autism treatments.”

The autism gene research from Children’s Hospital, which included two studies in the same issue of Nature, received extensive news coverage, including the CBS Evening News, ABC World News Tonight, BBC, Reuters, the Chicago Tribune, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other news outlets in the U.K., India, Australia, Germany and China. Hakonarson’s main collaborator was neuroscientist Gerard D. Schellenberg, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, with other scientists participating from 14 additional centers.

SOURCE The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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Autism is no laughing matter and it is one of the hardest situations a parent can endure. This child behavioral problem can take quite a toll on the physical and emotional strength of the parents but the child will have no one to rely on but family.

Children with autism usually have difficulties to express their basic wants or needs so this may be one of the sources of stress for parents.They can also contribute strongly against the financial and social aspect of the family by way of daily care routines and appropriate help and educaton.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention pinpoints that autism has risen dramatically over the past fifteen years jumping from 1 case in 5,000 people to a ratio of 1 in 150. However, over this same period of time, there have been much advancements in dealing with this case.

It can really be very difficult for a family because normal family routines will be more difficult with this case. The stress for such parenting demands is immense that both parents should be strong for each other

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