Transcript Slide 1

Welcome to Team Captain Meeting!
James B. Adams & Gina Vokoun
Agenda
Welcome
Introductions
Autism Research Institute
ASU Autism/Asperger’s Research Program
Zoowalk Logistics
Zoowalk T-Shirt and Prizes
Zoowalk Fundraising
Discussion/Questions
Welcome!
Zoowalk for Autism fundraiser supports
research locally at ASU and nationally via
the Autism Research Institute.
Team Captains play a vital role in advertising
the walk, inviting people to join, and
inviting people to donate.
Thank you for coming and for your support!
The Autism Research Institute
and its
Defeat Autism Now! Program
Founded by Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.
Bernard and Mark Rimland
Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a
Neural Theory of Behavior (1964)
Autism Research Institute
• Conducts and sponsors practical research on causes of autism
and how to treat it
• Networks scientists and physicians in annual Think Tank on latest
treatments
• Largest provider of autism seminars to physicians – over 800
physicians attended ARI trainings last year
• Provides parents with relevant science-based information to help
understand and treat their children.
• Defeat Autism Now! Conference – reaches 1000 families live, and
20,000 watch for free
www.autism.com
James B. Adams, Ph.D.
Director, ASU Autism/Asperger’s Research Program
President, Autism Society of Greater Phoenix
Co-Leader, Autism Research Institute Think Tank
Father of an 18-year-old girl with autism
Autism Research
Our research group is dedicated to finding the causes of
autism, how to prevent autism, and how to best help
people with autism.
Nutrition: vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids
Toxic Metals and Chelation
Gastrointestinal Problems
Sleep
Inflammation
Mitochondrial Disorders
Seizures
Nutrition Research
2004 pilot study: vitamin/mineral supplement improves
sleep and gastrointestinal problems
2006: Low lithium in children with autism and their mothers
2007: Essential Fatty acids help reduce autistic symptoms
in children and adults with low fish consumption
2008/2010 study
1) Many abnormalities in nutritional and metabolic status,
including low glutathione, increased toxic metals, low
ATP, abnormal neurotransmitters, and more
2) Vitamin mineral supplement greatly improves most
nutritional and metabolic abnormalities, including
glutathione, ATP, neurotransmitters, and more
Toxic Metals – published studies
2003: children with autism excreted 3-6x more
mercury than typical children after chelation
2007: 2-3x higher mercury in baby teeth
2007: higher amounts of toxics in children’s hair
2008: abnormal mercury in baby hair
2009: amount of toxic metals strongly correlates
with severity of autism
2009: chelation with DMSA safely removes toxic
metals, improves glutathione, reduces
inflammation, and improves symptoms
Gastrointestinal Problems
2008/2010 study found severity of gastrointestinal
problems strongly correlated with severity of
autism; also, much lower short-chain fatty acids,
indicating abnormal gut bacteria
New 2010 study will use novel DNA-based
methods to identify and quantify roughly 400600 different gut bacteria in children with autism
vs. typical children
Treating Inflammation
2007 study found that ACTOS, an FDAapproved anti-inflammatory medication,
was able to reduce autistic symptoms
2009 study found increased platelets, a
general marker of inflammation, and found
that chelation therapy resulted in 50%
improvement
Seizures
National survey with Dr. Richard Frye
(neurologist at Un. Texas) on treatments
for seizures – over 1000 respondents –
clearly identifies most effective
medications/treatments with least sideeffects
Will be presented at fall conference, and
paper almost ready for submission
Mitochondrial Disorders
Mitochondria are the “factories” in every cell that
make ATP, the primary fuel for body and the
brain
Many studies now show that children with autism
often have mitochondrial problem
We conducted the first double-blind, placebocontrolled study of Carnitine, an FDA-approved
medication/nutritional supplement, and found
that it was beneficial
Results will be presented at fall conference
New 2010 study being planned
1-year, multi-treatment study combining
special diets, vitamins, minerals, essential
fatty acids, amino acids, digestive
enzymes, probiotics, and more - for 100
children and adults with autism.
Goal: use a broad array of treatments to try
to correct many problems in autism, to
maximize improvement
Bringing Research to Families
Summary of Biomedical Treatments
28-page summary of 14 major treatments,
including a summary of the research for
each treatment and how to implement it
Free copy sent to over 2000 families in
Arizona; most widely-requested
publication from ARI
Supplementation:
Our Recovery Story
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Ricky at 16 months
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Development slowed
by 1 year, then began
regressing
Autism diagnosis at
26 months
Immediately began
GFCF low-allergenic
diet
Habilitation, therapies,
and preschool
Supplement Study Results: Age 4 ½
• Day 11: Increased energy level, more echolalia
• Day 18: First formed stool, willing to eat a greater variety of
foods
• Day 25: Initiating social interaction, more expressive language
• Day 32: Asking questions
• Day 40: Uncomfortable in wet diaper
• Day 54: Speaking in complete sentences, spontaneously
engaging in interactive and imaginative play
• Day 68: Spontaneously learning new words, initiating
conversations, 100% dry all day, playing with toys, willing to
shift attention from TV/video games to family members
• Day 76: 100% dry day and night, bowels solid and fully formed,
great appetite and energy level, has conversations with stuffed
animals, prefers interaction with real people to TV & video
games, used “I” when answering a question, fine motor
improvement
Supplementation:
Our Recovery Story
Why I support the Zoowalk
When my son was first diagnosed, the Autism Research
Institute was invaluable in providing my family with the
hope that he would someday have a typical life. At the first
Zoowalk, I was honored to actually meet and thank Dr.
Rimland for giving me my son back. Over the past years,
the expertise and encouragement from both ARI and Jim
Adams with the ASU Autism/Asperger's Research Program
have helped my son improve to the point that he has lost
his diagnosis and enjoys the typical life of a fourth grade
boy.- happy mother
Why I support the Zoowalk
Autism Research Institute (ARI) and ASU
Autism/Asperger's Research Program have given my
boys the lift up I never thought they'd get. Being a part
of ASU's Vitamin/Mineral Study taught me the
importance of vitamins and minerals our kids are
deficient in. With the vitamins/minerals, I saw major
improvement in speech, cognitive ability and behaviors.
I'm extremely grateful for ARI and Jim Adams and all
their great work to treat our children with autism
spectrum disorders. ~ Gina Vokoun
Why I support the Zoowalk
Our son Alexander greatly benefited from
the DMSA study. Not only did we learn
that he had an excessive amount of lead
in his body but after only one round of
DMSA he seemed more focused and his
speech improved." mother
Research Summary
ARI and ASU are committed to finding the
cause of autism, and how to help children
and adults with autism.
The focus is on practical research that will
make a difference in the lives of children
and adults.
Zoowalk Logistics
Very similar plan to last year.
Large teams may still request early tshirt delivery.
New walk from parking lot to zoo, through desert
landscape – same distance, much more scenic
One change is that, at registration, teams will pick
up tshirts and tickets for prizes; prizes will be
redeemed at end of walk for special artwork
made by adults on the spectrum.
Zoowalk Prizes
All Zoowalk prizes are made by adults with
autism/asperger’s, as part of a special
program by SEEDs which teaches them
how to make art projects for sale, and
teaches them valuable vocational skills.
Each $200 raised results in 1 ticket. Prizes
available ranging from 1-8 tickets. People
will be able to select their individual prize.
Fundraising Ideas
Email, email, email – to groups of friends,
and to individuals
Hand out brochures to family, friends, coworkers, therapists
Hold a zoowalk lunch or dinner party
Your ideas?
Every dollar raised helps support important
research at ASU and ARI
Thank you!
Many thanks for being a zoowalk team captain and
supporting autism research!
Together we are making a difference to children and
adults with autism!