Mazurek shares research results at IMFAR

Micah Mazurek, Ph.D.

The MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders was well represented at this year’s International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in San Diego, CA.  Faculty and students affiliated with the University of Missouri and the Thompson Center shared a total of 17 oral and poster presentations during the three-day event.

Dr. Micah Mazurek, assistant professor from the Department of Health Psychology in the MU School of Health Professions and psychologist at the Thompson Center, gave one of those presentations. Selected from hundreds of submissions, Mazurek’s talk outlined the findings of a study that she and Dr. Stephen Kanne conducted focusing on the developmental course of social and communicative symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  Their study examined change over time in these symptoms, as well as predictors of symptom improvement, particularly the role of community-based treatment type and intensity. The study included 1,433 children and adolescents with ASD (between the ages of 6 and 17) who participated in the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC), a North American multi-site study of children with ASD. 

“The Simons Simplex Collection was an excellent source of information for our study because it includes children and families from a broad geographic area, and with a range of ages and levels of ASD severity.” Mazurek said. 

To better understand symptom course and outcomes, Mazurek and Kanne examined the results from a variety of standardized measures, including the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R), intelligence tests, demographic information and parent-reported treatment histories.  The researchers examined improvement in social and communication symptoms by comparing current symptoms to parent reports of the child’s symptoms at age 4. 

States Mazurek of the study’s findings, “The vast majority of children showed at least some improvement in their social and communication symptoms over time.”  She also said, “65% of the children who were nonverbal at age five eventually developed speech.” 

When examining the role of community-based therapy, the findings showed that children who received therapy demonstrated the best outcomes. Children with higher intelligence appeared to benefit most from treatment.  The findings also indicated that greater therapy intensity (for speech and behavioral therapy) and receiving therapy at an earlier age (for speech and occupational therapy), predicted better outcomes.

“The results of this study provide important information about the course and outcomes of ASD symptoms, and show that targeted treatments can lead to better outcomes for children with ASD,” Mazurek said.

The International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) is an annual scientific meeting, convened each spring, to exchange and disseminate new scientific advances among ASD scientists and their trainees from around the world. The primary aim of the meeting is to promote exchange and dissemination of the latest scientific findings and to stimulate research progress in understanding the nature, causes, and treatments for ASD.

“Attending and presenting at IMFAR is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with other researchers and clinicians as we develop new ways to understand and improve outcomes for individuals and families affected by autism,” Mazurek added.

In addition to Mazurek’s presentation, several faculty and staff of the Thompson Center had posters outlining their research, selected for display at this year’s conference. The complete list is below.
Improvements in Executive Function Associated with Participation in Social Skills Intervention. Bodner, Stichter, O’Connor, Moffitt, Herzog & Christ	Adaptation of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Deidrick & Farmer
Intervention-related Changes in Brain Activation in Adolescents with Autism. Christ, Stichter, Moffitt, Bodner, & O’Connor	Validity of the Autism Dysmorphology Measure (ADM) for Assessment of Generalized Dysmorphology. Miles
Aggression in Children & Adolescents with ASD: Prevalence & Risk Factors. Kanne & Mazurek	Exploring the Relationship Between Essential/Complex Autism Subgroups & Parent Report of ASD Phenotypic Variables. Takahashi, Kanne, Mazurek & Miles
Prevalence of Anxiety & Associated Psychiatric Comorbidities among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Autism Treatment Network Study. Vasa, Kalb, Clemons, Freedman, Keefer, Kanne, Mazurek, & Murray	The Interrelationship Between Adaptative Receptive Language & Behavior In Children with ASD: Exploration for Inform Pivotal Interventions. Lierheimer, Gage & Kanne
Effects of Prenatal Stress, Prenatal Diet, & Maternal Genotype on Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Mice. Jones, Will, Giesing, Hecht, Parker & Beversdorf	Relationship Between Gastrointestinal Disorder & GSR Indicators of Stress In Autism Spectrum Disorders. Ferguson, Day, Wexler, Constance, Foster & Beversdorf
Extending Social Competence Intervention (SCI) for Adolescents with HFA/AS into Schools. O’Connor, McGhee, Leinert, Herzog & Stichter	Association Between Gastrointestinal Disorder & Cardiovascular Responses to Stress In Autism Spectrum Disorders. Hecht, Ferguson, Day, Wexler, Constance, Foster & Beversdorf
Simultaneous Measurement of Pupillary Light Reflex & Heart Rate Variability in Children with Autism. Daluwatte, Muzorewa, Christ, Beversdorf, Takahashi, Miles & Yao	Designing Social Competence Interventions for Adolescents with Autism: The SCI Project. Stichter, Lierheimer, Schultz & Herzog
Provision of Transition Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Cheak-Zamora, Farmer, Mayfield, Law, Marvin	Unmet Healthcare Needs of Children with ASD & Their Families. Farmer, Clark, Mayfield, Marvin, Law
Predicting Improvement In Social/Communication Symptoms of ASD Using Retrospective Treatment Data. Mazurek & Kanne