FRIDAY, Feb. 17 -- In children as young as 6 months old, changes in the brain that can lead to autism spectrum disorder may have already begun, preliminary research suggests.

Although early signs of autism, such as problems communicating and repetitive behaviors, can often be seen as early as 1 year, processes in the brain linked to communication are seemingly being altered months earlier, University of North Carolina researchers report.

"We know that there is evidence that autism affects the ability of different brain regions to communicate with each other. This study confirms that this atypical brain development begins very early in life," said study co-author Geri Dawson, the chief science officer at Autism Speaks.

"These findings raise the possibility of developing imaging markers that could detect risk for autism in advance of actual symptoms, and [to] begin treatment before symptoms begin," she said.

However, whether these brain changes occur in all autistic children isn't known, Dawson said. It is possible that the developmental problems of autism start even earlier, while in the womb, she said.

"One can imagine a day when you would use these imaging biomarkers to identify a young baby who is at risk and then provide them with early stimulation that could, hopefully, reduce or even prevent the onset of autism," Dawson said.

The report was published in the Feb. 17 online edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

For the study, a team led by Jason Wolff, a postdoctoral fellow at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina, used MRI brain scans to look for early brain development in 92 infants.

These babies all had older sisters or brothers who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, putting these infants a higher risk for developing the condition, the researchers noted.

The children underwent a special type of MRI called diffusion tensor imaging at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years of age. These repeated scans allowed the researchers to make three-dimensional pictures that show changes in "white matter." White matter is a part of the brain particularly embedded with nerve fibers that form information pathways between different areas of the brain.

Of the 28 infants who developed autism spectrum disorder, the scans showed different white matter development in 12 of the 15 brain pathways the researchers looked at, compared with 64 infants who did not go on to develop autism spectrum disorder.

At 6 months, these pathways were denser than usual in the babies who developed autism spectrum disorder, but on later scans development had slowed. At two years, the pathways were less dense than those of typical toddlers, the researchers found.

These differences suggest that white matter development is affected during early childhood, at the very time the brain is making and strengthening these vital connections, the investigators said.

"These brain changes appear to occur in advance of many symptoms," said Wolff. "Autism unfolds over early development, and this process may begin with basic differences in brain connections."

These early brain changes suggest the potential for biological signs for early detection of autism, Wolff said. "This is an initial study, but [it] holds promise for the development of early detection down the road," he added.

In addition, there is the potential for intervention that could disrupt the process that leads to autism, Wolff added. "We may be able to intervene before autism fully manifests," he said.

This study is part of a larger, ongoing multi-site study, Wolff said. "This is an initial sub-sample, and we are aiming to enroll about 400 infants at high risk for autism and 150 at low risk. Eventually we will be able to report on development of both brain and behavior in this group," he said.

Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental & behavioral pediatrics at the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park, said one drawback to this approach is the number and cost of MRIs that would have to be done to identify babies at risk for autism.

"This is not a cheap or casual procedure," he said.

"However, this study suggests that there are roots to autism on a neurological level very early on," Adesman said.

In the future, the new research may have a clinical application, he said, but right now "this is not a diagnostic test and parents should not be asking for it."

Another expert, Dr. Robert F. Lopez-Alberola, an associate professor and chief of pediatric neurology at the University of Miami School of Medicine, added that while it has been known that there are changes in the brain in autism, "this is the first time we see this over time."

"From the clinical prescriptive, we may have identified a potential marker for earlier diagnosing and then to begin interventions that could make the symptoms less significant or even to prevent them," he said.

SOURCES:Geri Dawson, Ph.D., chief science officer, Autism Speaks;Jason Wolff, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Andrew Adesman, M.D., chief, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park; Robert F. Lopez-Alberola, M.D., associate professor and chief, pediatric neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine; Feb. 17, 2012, American Journal of Psychiatry, online

Twice-Weekly Resistance Training Sessions Can Improve Tremors, Slowness, and Rigidity

By Denise Mann
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Feb 16, 2012 -- Weight training twice a week may reduce the stiffness, slowness, and tremors often seen in people with Parkinson's disease, a new study shows.

A progressive neurologic disease, Parkinson's affects up to 1 million people in the U.S. Symptoms include tremors and difficulty with movement and walking. The study shows that weight training for two years trumps stretching and balance exercises for these so-called motor symptoms.

The findings are to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in New Orleans.

In the study, 48 people with Parkinson's disease participated in a weight-training program or another program aimed at improving flexibility, balance, and strength. Participants exercised for one hour twice a week for two years. They were aged 59, on average, and had had Parkinson's for about seven years.

Everyone saw benefits after six months, but these benefits lasted two years among those in the weight-training group.

Specifically, people in the weight-training group saw a 7.3-point improvement after two years on a measure that combines symptoms of Parkinson's into a single score. "The three cardinal signs of Parkinson's disease are slowness, tremor, and rigidity, and weight training will help all of these," says researcher Daniel Corcos, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Our study shows weightlifting twice a week is helpful and you should try to work all of your muscle groups."

It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise regimen.

"Anyone can do it, from the newly diagnosed to people with advanced Parkinson's in wheelchairs. It is never too late to start," Corcos says.

People in wheelchairs may be able to exercise their ankles using resistance bands, for example.

Tai Chi vs. Weight Training

It's not so much what you do, but that you do something if you have Parkinson's disease, says Stuart Isaacson, MD. He is the director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Boca Raton and an associate professor of neurology at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami.

"Parkinson's disease affects mobility, and any type of exercise that helps people move may improve overall mobility, so we always recommend exercise," he says. "Everyone with Parkinson's should exercise. A little is better than none."

Recent studies have suggested that tai chi, a form of martial arts marked by slow, gentle movements and deep breathing, may improve some symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as balance.

Is tai chi better than weight training? It depends. "If balance is the issue, tai chi may be best, but if a person is concerned mainly with mobility, stiffness, and slowness, weight training may offer more benefits," Isaacson tells WebMD.

Some evidence suggests that exercise may do even more than boost strength and balance; it may protect brain cells from degeneration and make Parkinson's medications work better.

Many people with Parkinson's disease are also depressed and may not be willing to exercise. It is not a choice, Isaacson says: "It has to be a part of everyday routine, much like taking medications, showering, or eating."

These findings will be presented at a medical conference. They should be considered preliminary as they have not yet undergone the "peer review" process, in which outside experts scrutinize the data prior to publication in a medical journal.

SOURCES: Stuart Isaacson, MD, director of Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders Center, Boca Raton, Fla.; associate professor of neurology, Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, Fla.Daniel Corcos, PhD, the University of Illinois, Chicago.American Academy of Neurology 64th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, April 21-28, 2012.

Walking Speed, Strength of Hand Grip May Help Predict Future Risk of Memory Loss and Stroke, Study Finds

By Cari Nierenberg
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Feb. 15, 2012 -- How fast you can walk and the strength of your hand grip might shed light on your odds of having a stroke or memory problems as you get older, researchers report.

"These are basic office tests which can provide insight into risk of dementia and stroke," study researcher Erica C. Camargo, MD, PhD, says in a news release.

A decrease in walking speed might reveal a decline in a person's overall health, and a weaker grip can be a sign of less upper-body strength and frailty.

For the research, scientists looked at about 2,400 men and women, average age 62, who had not had a stroke or mental decline when the study began. They measured participants' hand grip strength and walking speed, and they also gave them a brain scan and memory tests.

During an 11-year follow-up period, 79 people suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack ("mini-stroke") and 34 people developed dementia.

The study will be presented in April at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in New Orleans.

Stronger Grips, Stronger Test Scores

The risk of memory problems in men and women who had slower walking speeds was 1.5 times greater, as they got older, than quicker-paced walkers. Walking slowly was also linked with lower brain volume and not performing as well on various tests of memory, language, and decision making.

People aged 65 and older who had the strongest grip had a 42% lower risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) than those with weaker grips. But this same effect was not seen in men and women under 65.

People with stronger hand grips were found to have larger brain volume and scored better on tests asking them to find similarities among objects.

"While frailty and lower physical performance in elderly people have been associated with an increased risk of dementia, we weren't sure until now how it impacted people of [that] age," says Camargo, a neurologist at the Boston Medical Center in Boston. Reduced grip strength and walking speed might be a sign of the need for additional brain function tests.

More research is needed to understand why slower walking speeds and less hand grip strength in people happens and how it may increase the future risk for mental decline and stroke.

This study will be presented at a medical conference. The findings should be considered preliminary as they have not yet undergone the "peer review" process, in which outside experts scrutinize the data prior to publication in a medical journal.

SOURCES: American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, New Orleans, April 21-28.News release, American Academy of Neurology.

TUESDAY, Feb. 14 -- When given the opportunity to have screen time, children with autism spectrum disorders typically choose television and video games over social interactive media, such as email, a new study finds .

The preoccupation with video games could interfere with the children's socialization and learning, warned the researchers, whose study appears online in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by problems with social interaction, communication and restricted interests and behaviors. Autism spectrum disorders, or ASDs, include Asperger syndrome, which is a milder form of autism.

In conducting the study, the researchers analyzed information on more than 1,000 teens in special education classes, including those with autism spectrum disorders, learning and intellectual disabilities, and speech problems.

About 60 percent of the teens with autism spectrum disorders spent most of their time watching TV or videos, the investigators found.

"This rate appears to be high, given that among typically developing adolescents, only 28 percent have been shown to be 'high users' of television," Paul Shattuck, an assistant professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a university news release. "Television viewing is clearly a preferred activity for children with ASDs, regardless of symptoms, functional level or family status."

Moreover, 41 percent of the teens with autism spent most of their free time playing video games, the study authors found.

"Given that only 18 percent of youths in the general population are considered to be high users of video games, it seems reasonable to infer based on the current results, that kids with ASDs are at significantly greater risk of high use of this media than are youths without ASDs," Shattuck added.

In contrast, the teens with autism spectrum disorders were less likely to use email or social media.

"We found that 64.4 percent of youth with ASDs did not use email or chat at all," Shattuck said. "Kids with speech and language impairments and learning disabilities were about two times more likely to use email or chat rooms than those with ASDs."

He noted, however, use of social media increased among the teens with autism spectrum disorders as they got older and their cognitive skills improved. Cognitive is a word used to describe brain-based functions such as memory, thinking, learning and processing information.

"This proclivity for screen time might be turned into something we can take advantage of to enhance social skills and learning achievement, especially [with] recent innovations in devices like iPads," Shattuck suggested.

-- Mary Elizabeth Dallas

SOURCE: Washington University in St. Louis, news release, January 2012

Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Small Blood Vessel Damage in the Brain

By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Feb 13, 2012 -- Chalk up another possible benefit to following a Mediterranean diet.

A new study suggests that people who follow a Mediterranean-style diet have less small blood vessel damage in the brain.

The Mediterranean diet is based on the diets of the populations bordering the Mediterranean Sea, such as Italy and Greece.

The diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, whole grains, legumes, monounsaturated fats like olive oil, and moderate amounts of alcohol. It has a low amount of red meat, saturated fats like butter, and refined grains.

Mediterranean Diet May Protect Blood Vessels

Eating a Mediterranean diet has already been linked to a lower risk of what's called the metabolic syndrome, heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

But researchers say no study has looked at the diet's possible link to white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) in the brain, which might help explain some of these beneficial effects.

WMHV is an indicator of small blood vessel damage in the brain and is detected by magnetic resonance screening ( MRI). WMHV can be found in the average person as he or she ages. Previous studies have shown that high amounts of WMHV in the brain can predict a higher risk of stroke and dementia.

In the study, researchers compared the brain scans and diets of 966 adults with an average age of 72. The participants' reported diets were rated according to how closely they followed a Mediterranean diet.

The results showed that those who most closely followed a Mediterranean diet had a lower measure of WMHV than those who did not. Each increase in the Mediterranean diet score was associated with a corresponding decrease in white matter hyperintensity volume score.

This benefit remained consistent even after adjusting for other risk factors for small blood vessel damage in the brain, like smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol levels.

Diet as a Whole Important

Researchers say the aspect of the Mediterranean diet that seemed to matter most was the ratio of monounsaturated fat to saturated fat.

Monounsaturated fats are found in many vegetable oils, avocados, and nuts. Saturated fats are mainly found in meat and dairy products, as well as in some processed foods.

But researcher Hannah Gardener, ScD, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and colleagues say their results suggest that "overall dietary pattern, rather than any of the individual components," may be more relevant in explaining the healthy benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

The results appear in the Archives of Neurology.

SOURCES: Gardener, H. Archives of Neurology, February 2012.News release, American Medical Association.Medscape News Today: "The Clinical Importance of White Matter Hyperintensities on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis."