I am proud of having initiated Britain’s National Autism Project (NAP). This started in late 2014, reported in 2017 and has just moved into its legacy phase. Its original purpose was to map the existing research base on autism and provide authoritative recommendation on what further research was needed. A team from the London School […]
Publication of our recent research on aluminium and autism has prompted myriad questions not least of which being ‘what next?’ Before attempting an answer, it is important to re-visit the conclusions of the research, specifically a potentially causal link between aluminium in brain tissue and autism. Aluminium in brain tissue is an inevitable consequence of […]
Edinburgh University’s Patrick Wild Centre was opened in 2010 by Alfred Wild who had watched his parents care for his autistic brother and determined to help people affected by autism. Last year the University drew up plans for a combined clinical and basic science facility to investigate and assess autism, Fragile X syndrome, intellectual disabilities […]
Alexander’s film gives an uplifting introduction to autism for young non-autistic audiences, aiming to raise awareness, understanding and tolerance in future generations. […]
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The personal story of the journey of a young adult with hepatitis B infection brings new insights into the challenges that can be encountered, and about the way that stigma can be a barrier to high quality care. “As a young girl in East Africa, I was the primary caregiver to my mother who lived […]
Self-harming is a highly complex issue but from friendships to body dissatisfaction to social media and exam pressures, there is little doubt that life as a 21st century teenager can feel stressful – especially without a healthy coping strategy. Priory child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg offers her insight – and advice. A […]
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At the start of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, two experts in eating disorders discuss the problem of social media and bloggers who can help to promote poor body self-image. Alexia Dempsey is an Eating Disorders Specialist at the Priory Hospital Roehampton in South-West London. “Selfies, self-image, self-esteem and the “self” is very much at the […]
Why is there still such a huge stigma around breastfeeding in public? New research reveals over three quarters of British parents believe children should be taught about breastfeeding at school, to help normalise the practice and end the stigma for good. Even in these progressive times, there is still some way to go before new […]
Scientists have discovered crucial new information about how a foetus develops which could explain why very premature babies suffer low blood pressure and other health problems. It is well-known that babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy often suffer from dehydration, a drop in blood pressure and even death in some cases. The team found […]
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A study, published (Jan 2018) in the Environmental Science & Technology journal, looked at 200 toys taken from homes, charities and second-hand shops and nurseries in the South-West of England. They were looking to establish if older, plastic second-hand toys could pose a safety risk to children. They were checking for the presence of 9 […]