Main description:

This book is a comprehensive overview of the clinical and scientific aspects of Autism from the leading experts in the field. The clinical section covers everything from epidemiological features to epigenetic regulation to behavioral therapies and much in between. The basic science section presents the latest knowledge on the underlying causes of the disorder including the role of various neurotransmitters, neurexins and neuroligins, reelin, and other proteins. Chapters also explore the cognition and motor control in autism and the connection between oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction and autism. The thorough description of these underlying causes may help researchers and clinicians find more effective treatments and therapies for the 1 in 68 American children who have been diagnosed with Autism.

Contents:

Section I. Clinical Aspects of Autism

1. A Brief History of Autism

Fred R. Volkmar

2. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Diagnostic Considerations

George M. Realmuto

3. Epidemiologic Features of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Russell Kirby

4. Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Opportunity and Challenge in the Genetics Clinic

Yi Wang, Ping Wang, Xiu Xu, Jennifer Goldstein, Sau W. Cheung, Yong-hui Jiang

5. Epigenetic Regulation in Autism

Cyril J. Peter, Abraham Reichenberg, Schahram Akbarian

6. Immunology of Autism

Destanie R. Rose, Paul Ashwood

7. Neuroimaging in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Danielle Baribeau, Evdokia Anagnostou

8. The Neuropathology of Autism

Manuel F. Casanova

9. Pharmacology of ASD Spectrum Disorder

Donald E. Greydanus, Gabriel Kaplan, Dilip R. Patel

10. Behavioral Therapies

V. Mark Durand

Section II. Basic Science Aspects of Autism

11. Autism and Dopamine

Guy Mittleman, Charles D. Blaha

12. Autism and Glutamate

Maria L. Carlsson

13. Serotonin in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Insights From Human Studies and Animal Models

Natalia Benza, Diane C. Chugani

14. Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Autism and Genetic Syndromes

Tal Levin-Decanini, Sunday M. Francis, Angela Sagar, Wensheng Liu, C. Sue Carter, Suma Jacob

15. Molecular basis of cholinergic changes in autistic spectrum disorders and relevance for treatment interventions.

Elizabeta B. Mukaetova-Ladinska, Elaine K. Perry

16. Reelin, GABA, FMRP, and Autism

Timothy D. Folsom, S. Hossein Fatemi

17. The Role of Neurexins and Neuroligins in Autism

Amy C. Reichelt, James Dachtler

18. Neurotrophins, their receptors and autism: ligand vs. receptor abnormalities

Elizabeth M. Sajdel-Sulkowska

19. Cognition, Motor Control and Other Aspects of Autism: A Pragmatic Review

James W. Howell, Detlef H. Heck

20. Increased vulnerability to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in autism

Abha Chauhan, Ved Chauhan