Weekly Medical Tips

Parents may be relieved to know that there is a possible screening for autism as early as one years old.


Published in The Journal of Pediatrics a five-minute checklist may give indication or not for the disorder.
Identifying early signs of autism allows for the child to get treatment sooner and this will effect long term results for the child's development. Many autistic children don't get diagnosed until they are at school age and the lapse of treatment may be detrimental to the child's long term development and social behavior.  Pediatricians  screened infants at their 1 year well-baby check up using the "Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist." The questions the doctor  asked  the care taker  included child's eye gaze, sounds, words, gesture and communication that is expected for that age group. Any of the children that failed the test were re-evaluated every 6 months until the age of 3.
The study consisted of 10,479 infants screened, 32 were diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). The screening was accurate 75 percent of the time. The toddlers that had developmental delay 89 percent of those with language delay were referred for behavioral therapy. When pediatricians rated the study 96 percent rated the program positively and 100 percent continued using the screening as a precursor for early diagnoses of autism and developmental delays.

NIH/National Institute of Mental Health (2011, April 28). Five-minute screen identifies subtle signs of autism in one-year-olds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 28, 2011, from Five-minute screen identifies subtle signs of autism in one-year-olds

Weekly Medical Tips

The link between food coloring and ADHD
(Attention deficit hyperactivity Disorder)

A British study shows the link between food dyes and ADHD. The study consisted of 300 children broken into two groups: One group that participated in the study included 153 children ages 3, and the other group composed of 144 children ages 8 and 9 years old. The first group (A) of the test had the dyes and preservatives of, Sunset yellow, Carmoisine, Tartrazine, Ponceau and Sodium benzoate a preservative. The second group (B) of the test had the dyes and preservatives of: Sodium benzoate, Sunset yellow, Carmoisine, Quinoline yellow and Allura red. The third group (C) of the test were placebos. The older children showed a significant adverse effect from the test of dyes in both A and B. The younger children seemed to show an adverse effect only with the dyes that were in group A (Bauchner, M.D., 2007).

The same study suggested artificial colours and sodium benzoate preservative individually or when both were presented in a child's diet increased in hyperactivity in 3 year olds and the 8 and 9 years old in the general population. (Donna McCann PhD a, Angelina Barrett BSc a, Alison Cooper MSc a, Debbie Crumpler BSc a, Lindy Dalen PhD a, Kate Grimshaw MScb, Elizabeth Kitchin BSc a, Kris Lok MSc a, Lucy Porteous BSc a, Emily Prince MSc a, Prof Edmund Sonuga-Barke PhD a, Prof John O Warner MD c, Prof Jim Stevenson PhD a ).

ADHD is a behavioral disorder that affects 8% to 10% of school age children and boys are more likely to have the disorder. ADHD is defined as hyperactivity, trouble concentrating and at times uncontrollable actions by the child. Children also experience fidgety behavior and have a difficult time sitting still and have poor coordination (Domoto, M, M., Ed., 1998).

Bauchner, MD. (2007). Food Additives---Do they Cause Hyperactivity? Journal Watch. 2007; 6(11). Massachusetts Medical Society. retrieved April 21, 2011, from Food Additives -- Do They Cause Hyperactivity?



Domoto M., M.Ed., (1998). is a clinical developmental 
specialist with Penn State Geisinger Health System,
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA. Retrieved
April 21, 2011, from   What is ADHD?


Donna McCann PhD a, Angelina Barrett BSc a, Alison Cooper MSc a, Debbie Crumpler BSc a, Lindy Dalen PhD a, Kate Grimshaw MScb, Elizabeth Kitchin BSc a, Kris Lok MSc a, Lucy Porteous BSc a, Emily Prince MSc a, Prof Edmund Sonuga-Barke PhD a, Prof John O Warner MD c, Prof Jim Stevenson PhD a . Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3 year-year-old and 8/9-year old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trail. The Lancet, Vol. 370, Iss. 9598, Pg. 1560-1567, November 3, 2007. doi:10.1016/So140-6736(07)61306-3. Retrieved April 21, 2011, from  Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial : The Lancet

Weekly Medical Tips

Is soy products safe to consume on a regular basis? This question has been controversial for years. Soy products do contain high levels of plant phytoestrogen Not identical to the human form of the hormone estrogen, but it does increase cell proliferation a pre-cursor for breast cancer. The misconception is that Asians eat a lot of soy and breast cancer is  not a great concern in Asian countries. On the contrary Asians  consume small amounts of soy the total caloric intake is 1.5% that equals to two teaspoons daily and when they do eat soy it is from miso, tempch, natto and tofu. In the states consumption of soy is in processed foods such as: veggie burger, energy bars and soy milk. The Japanese are aware of the toxic chemicals associated with soy. Soy is consumed in Japan after it has been fermented for 3 months to 3 years. Unfermented soy contains phylates which effects the bodies absorption of minerals in the gastro intestinal track. Soy also carries nitrates and lysinoalanine proven to be carcinogens. It lacks calcium which can cause Vitamin D deficiency (Lam, 2009).   The Israeli Health Ministry has advised women to take precaution when consuming soy and the increase of  breast cancer. The French Food Agency will soon be required to post warning labels on soy milk and other soy foods. Women who have a family history or have breast cancer should limit or eliminate soy in their diet (Daniel, 2005).



 Daniel, K., PhD, CCN. (2005). is THE WHOLE NUTRITIONIST®. She earned her PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Anti-Aging Therapies from the Union Institute and Universityin Cincinnati, is board certified as a clinical nutritionist (CCN) by the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists in Dallas and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Weston A. Price Foundation. As a clinical nutritionist, she specializes in digestive disorders, women’s reproductive health issues, infertility, and recovery from vegetarian and soy-based diets.


Michael Lam, M.D., M.P.H., A.B.A.A.M. is a specialist in Preventive and Anti-Aging Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California. He also holds a Masters of Public Health degree and is Board Certification in Anti-aging Medicine by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. He has authored numerous articles and the following books: The Five Proven Secrets to Longevity, How to Stay Young and Live Longer, Estrogen Dominance - Hormonal Imbalance of the 21st Century, and Beating Cancer with Natural Medicine

Weekly Medical Tips

 How to diagnose Dementia

MRI scans determined a shrinkage in the mid-brain due to Alzheimer's disease diagnosed as neurodegenerative disease.  The number reason for dementia is Alzheimer disease. Signs that characterize the disease are memory loss, disorientation, difficulty with reasoning with the decline of language and thinking skills. In the past an autopsy was the only conclusive diagnoses. Florida researches have acquired diagnoses with the MRI with the findings of shrinkage and atrophy of the medial temporal lobe. Narrowing to the three structures that are vital for the conscious memory of facts and events. The research compared 260 people with probable Alzheimer's disease divided by two groups one with degrees of cognitive loss and mild memory loss and the other group with no memory loss. The research found that the people that didn't have memory loss did have atrophy of the brain with the onset of memory loss within a year or two later. The MRI can detect who will get the disease before the onset of dementia. "Researchers at Miami's Wien Center and USF's Byrd Institute are developing drugs that attack mechanism that lead to death of nerve cells associated with the diseases." Accurate diagnoses will allow for the use of these drugs earlier and stop the progression of the disease.

University of South Florida Health (2008, December 23). MRI Brain Scans Accurate In Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease. Science Daily. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from MRI Brain Scans Accurate In Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease

Loss of smell is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD) a study in the Journal of Neuroscience. A protein amyloid that is accumulated in the brain affects the smell senses. The formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are found in MRI scans are contributed to the death of neurons in the brain. The test were on genetically created mice that developed amyloids in the brain showed signs of a human form of AD. The mice were unable to differentiate between smells. Even the smallest presence of a amyloid effected the mice's ability to smell.

NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine (2010, January 13). Loss of smell function may predict early onset of Alzheimer's disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100112171803.htm

Weekly Medical Tips

Chat Me More reported this news under Inspirational Friday in What's in The News Today and wanted it to be part of Medical Tips. This is a wonderful break through and I want my viewers that may be experiencing this disorder or know someone that is can possibly benefit from this great discovery. The treatment is still experimental. 

Robbie a sixteen year old suffered his entire life with Tourette's Syndrome,Tourette's is a condition that causes individuals to have uncontrollable ticks, due to misfiring within the brain. Robbie's ticks could last up to two hours. His ticks would consist of bursting out words, twisting his body and hitting himself.  Robbie gets miracle experimental surgery where they implant two pacemakers in his abdomen, which stops the abnormal  misfiring of over active nerve cells to the brain. Two weeks after the surgery Robbie feels normal and can be an average 16  year old and be around his friends, due to no more ticks.
Please watch the video:http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/video/surgery-cures-teen-tourettes-13273568

abcNews. (April 4, 2011). Surgery Cures Teen of Tourette's.  Dr. Richard Besser on a radical surgery that has turned one teen's life around. Retrieved April 1, fromhttp://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/video/surgery-cures-teen-tourettes-13273568

Jeff Matovic lived with Tourette's since he was 3 years old, he is now 31. This disorder affects 100,000 Americans. Some that have this condition may cough, grunt, sneeze and have verbal outburst. Jeff suffered with eyes fluttering, arms moving where he couldn't even hold a glass. Within the last year all his medications stopped working, which left him  confined to his house. Until he found the procedure called "Brain Stimulation" or DBS. He had the procedure done by a team at University Hospital of Cleveland and his neurosurgeon is Dr. Maciunas. Jeff is fine and free of Tourette's. This procedure is experimental so long term studies have not been done. To find out more about this procedure contact University Hospitals in Cleveland. 

Johnson, T., M.D. (April, 1, 2011). Experimental Surgery Zaps Tourette's Tics. Experimental Surgery Zaps Tics for Longtime Sufferer of Tourette Syndrome. ABCNEWS Medical Editor. Ceveland. abc Good Morning News. Retrieved April 1, 2011, from 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/DrJohnson/story?id=127925&page=1