1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910954475503321

Titolo

Autism and the environment : challenges and opportunities for research, workshop proceedings / / Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders, Board on Health Sciences Policy, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington, D.C., : National Academies Press, 2008

ISBN

9786611300098

9781281300096

1281300098

9780309108829

0309108829

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (358 p.)

Disciplina

616.85882

Soggetti

Autism - Environmental aspects

Autistic children

Autistic Disorder

Environment

Biomedical Research

Conference Proceedings.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- Introduction -- Proceedings -- Appendix A: Index of scientific opportunities -- Appendix B: Workshop agenda -- Appendix C: Registered workshop participants -- Appendix D: Biographic sketches of workshop planning committee, forum members, invited speakers, and staff.

Sommario/riassunto

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) constitute a major public health problem, affecting one in every 150 children and their families. Unfortunately, there is little understanding of the causes of ASD, and, despite their broad societal impact, many people believe that the overall research program for autism is incomplete, particularly as it relates to the role of environmental factors. The Institute of Medicine's



Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders, in response to a request from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, hosted a workshop called "Autism and the Environment: Challenges and Opportunities for Research." The focus was on improving the understanding of the ways in which environmental factors such as chemicals, infectious agents, or physiological or psychological stress can affect the development of the brain. Autism and the Environment documents the concerted effort which brought together the key public and private stakeholders to discuss potential ways to improve the understanding of the ways that environmental factors may affect ASD. The presentations and discussions from the workshop that are described in this book identify a number of promising directions for research on the possible role of different environmental agents in the etiology of autism.