Ambridge Researchers will launch the largest autism study in the history of the UK on Tuesday, aiming to provide better support and understanding for patients with autism.
Organizers said the Spectrum 10K project will recruit 10,000 autistic patients from across the UK to promote understanding of how biological and environmental factors affect them.
The project will be jointly carried out by Cambridge’s world-leading autism research center (ARC), the nearby genetic research institute Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The researchers said that this study will examine the different needs of people with autism, many of whom suffer from epilepsy, anxiety and depression and other diseases.
Spectrum 10K hopes to answer some questions, such as why some autistic patients have epilepsy or poor mental health while others do not
The organizers of the study have approximately 700,000 autistic patients in the UK, and they stated that they will try to better understand the reasons for the wide diversity of the autism spectrum, with the purpose of determining which support is best for everyone.
“There is an urgent need to better understand the health of people with autism. Spectrum 10K hopes to answer some questions, such as why some people with autism have epilepsy or poor mental health while others don’t,” led the research Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the ARC, said in a statement.
people People of all ages, genders, races and intellectual abilities will participate in this study. Eligible participants will be required to complete an online questionnaire and provide DNA saliva samples by mail.
Participants with autism can also invite biological relatives-autistic or others-to participate. The information collected from the questionnaire and DNA saliva samples and the information in the health record will be used to increase the knowledge and understanding of the health status of autism.
Dr. James Cusack, Chief Executive Officer The head of the autism research charity Autistica and an autistic person said: “We are happy to support Spectrum 10K. This project enables people with autism to participate in and shape autism research to build a system that meets everyone’s needs The future of support.”
The Spectrum 10K team stated that they see autism as an example of neurodiversity and oppose eugenics, find ways to treat autism, or prevent or eradicate this disease.
The organization stated that, instead, the research aims to determine the type of support and treatment to alleviate the undesired symptoms and co-occurring conditions that cause suffering for people with autism.
The Spectrum 10K team works with an advisory group of people with autism, parents of children with autism, clinicians, and autism charity representatives to ensure that Spectrum 10K is designed to provide the best service to the autism community. A total of 27 professional NHS sites in the UK are also helping to recruit Spectrum 10K.
The project is supported by actors, comedians and TV presenters Paddy McGuinness Who has three children with autism.
“As a parent of three children with autism, I am very happy to be able to support Spectrum 10K. This research is very important and can help us understand what makes each person with autism different and how to best support them, “He said.
Chris Parkham A naturalist and TV host who also suffers from autism said: “I am honored to be an ambassador for Spectrum 10K because I believe in the value of science to provide the support services needed by children and adults with autism.”
