Frontiers in Autism Research: New Horizons for Diagnosis and Treatment - Hardcover

This book focuses on the emerging and expanding areas of research on ASD and their potential to lead to better diagnosis and more effective therapies. These areas include innovative and integrative approaches to genetic/genomic analyses and investigations of epigenetic contributions, including the role of noncoding RNAs, DNA methylation, alternative splicing, RNA editing, and faulty translation in gene regulation and expression, metabolic and immune dysfunction, co-morbidities, as well as hormonal and gene-environment interactions that may increase risk for ASD.Within each chapter, experts review cutting-edge research as well as provide their perspective on the future of research in their respective areas, including the challenges involved and the types of studies or advances that are necessary to move the field forward to achieve predicted translational goals.Contributors: Argel Aguilar-Valles, Evdokia Anagnostou, Emma Ashwin, Bonnie Auyeung, Kelly M Bakulski, Simon Baron-Cohen, Margaret L Bauman, Donna Betts, Chad A Bousman, Daniel B Campbell, Manuel F Casanova, Bhismadev Chakrabarti, Gursharan Chana, Abha Chauhan, Ved Chauhan, Jessica DeWitt, Keith W Dunaway, Alal Eran, Ian P Everall, M Daniele Fallin, Richard E Frye, Piers Gillett, Matthew Ginsberg, Christos G Gkogkas, Rhonda J Greenhaw, Simon G Gregory, Elena L Grigorenko, Feng Gu, Rebecca Harmer, Martha Herbert, Valerie W Hu, Karen L Jones, Petra Kern, Arkady Khoutorsky, Rebecca Knickmeyer, Isaac S Kohane, Louis M Kunkel, Janine M LaSalle, Michael V Lombardo, Deepali Mankad, Marvin Natowicz, Laura Nicholls, Christos Pantelis, Natalia Rakhlin, Radhika Ramadas, Daniel A Rossignol, Tewarit Sarachana, Stephen W Scherer, Gabriela Schmulevich, Ayten Shah, Frank R Sharp, Alison B Singer, Efstratios Skafidas, Estate M Sokhadze, Nahum Sonenberg, Boryana Stamova, Zohreh Talebizadeh, Renee Testa, Judy Van de Water, Irina Voineagu, Daniel Williams, Ryan K C Yuen, Daniela Zantomio.

This unique book focuses on the emerging and expanding areas of research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These areas include investigations of genome-wide genetics and epigenetic contributions, metabolic and immune dysfunction, gene-environment interactions, as well as the role of alternative splicing, RNA editing, and noncoding RNAs in gene regulation.

Advances in targeted or personalized therapies and alternative interventions, such as music and art therapy, are also presented. In addition, current research on issues involving adults with ASD, a population that has been sorely neglected in the field of autism, is discussed.

Within each chapter, experts will review the current status of autism research in his/her field as well as provide a look at the direction where the field will (or should) be headed over the next five years and discuss the translational (practical) outcomes that are anticipated through this research. Some chapters are devoted to the development of molecular or genetic diagnostics for ASD, and novel therapeutic options that are emerging based upon new biological findings on specific genes, pathways, and metabolic functions disrupted in ASD.

These unique features are designed to provide "food for thought" for future studies on autism. Hence, this book will be of value not only to established investigators and students conducting research on autism, but also to the general population especially families of individuals affected by ASDs.