Newspaper Article

My uncle sent me this article.  He lives in Phoenix, AZ.

I realized when I tried to read this that it's hard to see so I'm going to re-type it.

NASAL SPRAY MAY MITIGATE AUTISM

Study:Hormone eases interaction

Tuesday, February 16th, 1020

WASHINGTON POST

     A nasal spray containing a hormone that makes women more maternal and men less shy apparently can help those with autism make eye contact and interact better with others, according to a provocative study released Monday.
     The study involving 13 adults with autism found that when they inhaled the hormone oxytocin they scored significantly better on a test that involved recognizing faces and performed much better in a game that involved tossing a ball with other people.
     Although more research is needed to confirm and explore the findings, the results are the latest in a growing body of evidence indicating that the hormone could lead to ways to help people with the often devastating brain disorder function better.
     "This is the firsst study that looked at whether oxytocin has an effect on social behavior, which is a major deficit in autism," said Angela Sirigu, who directs the National Center for Scientific Research in France and led the study, published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  "It looks like it could be very helpful."
     Researchers who were not involved in the study praised the work, saying the findings were promising and could lead to the first effecive treatment for the central problems affecting people with autism.
     Because oxytocin does not last long in the body and produces its effects for a relatively brief period, some experts said the findings were more likely to encourage drug companies to develop alternative substances that had the same benefits.