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Newark Airport Opens Second Sensory Room for Travelers With Autism. Take a Peek Inside
Newark Liberty International Airport has taken another step to ensure travelers, especially those on the autism spectrum, have a more manageable and stress-free journey. On Tuesday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the debut of a second sensory room at Newark’s Terminal A, complementing an existing space that the agency said has improved the experiences of countless neurodivergent travelers.
The second sensory room mirrors the calming environment of the first one, which opened in 2023. The new room offers features like soft lighting, comfortable seating, and calming sounds. It also includes a mock airplane cabin where passengers can familiarize themselves with the in-flight environment to alleviate anxiety.
“If you have a ‘timeout place,’ if you have a sensory room, it will really help the entire family deal with travel through the airport,” said Port Authority Vice Chairman Jeffrey Lynford in a news release.
A Western Diet During Pregnancy May Increase the Risk of ADHD
New research shows that mothers who follow a Western diet — characterized by consumption of foods that are high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients — during pregnancy may have an increased risk of having children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. The findings appeared in Nature Metabolism.
To reach their conclusion, the investigators assessed the dietary patterns, blood samples, and ADHD diagnoses in four large independent cohorts in both Denmark and the United States, which included more than 60,000 mother-child pairs. Subsequently, the researchers analyzed blood samples using metabolomics, which yielded insights into biological mechanisms linking diet to neurodevelopmental disorders.
The researchers observed a link between Western dietary patterns and ADHD across all 4 cohorts and validated it in three of the cohorts by using three different methods. Overall, the study showed the strongest correlations between a Western diet and ADHD risk during the first and second trimesters, findings that indicate fetal brain development in the initial stages are particularly sensitive to maternal nutrition.
“The greater a woman’s adherence to a Western diet in pregnancy — high in fat, sugar, and refined products while low in fish, vegetables, and fruit — the greater the risk appears to be for her child developing ADHD or autism,” says lead author, Dr David Horner, M.D., PhD, via a press release.
OHSU Study Confirms Link Between Maternal Diet, Risk to Infant Behavioral Health
Oregon Health & Science University reported:
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University’s Center for Mental Health Innovation have discovered that maternal diet during pregnancy, specifically during the third trimester, may be associated with a higher risk for mental health disorders in offspring.
These findings add to the growing evidence that maternal health factors influence infant neurodevelopment, meaning how the brain forms and functions. The study, published in Scientific Reports, assessed the effects of second- and third-trimester maternal diet on child behavioral outcomes. It confirmed that consumption of high-glycemic index foods, or foods causing a rapid rise in blood sugar levels, during pregnancy could impact infant temperament and behavioral trajectories.
The study is part of ongoing efforts led by Elinor Sullivan, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience in the OHSU School of Medicine, and Hanna Gustafsson, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry in the OHSU School of Medicine, to understand how environmental factors during pregnancy influence fetal brain development.
Massachusetts Is Critically Short of Autism Support Professionals
Massachusetts has a “critical shortage” of direct support professionals (DSPs) to care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism.
The Arc of Massachusetts, a Waltham-based non-profit, states its mission “is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism and their families.”
The organization represents some 200,000 individuals through 17 chapters statewide.
“We fulfill this through advocacy for community supports and services that foster social inclusion, self-determination, and equity across all aspects of society,” says the group’s website.
The Arc of Massachusetts has launched a “statewide workforce recruitment initiative, “With All Your Heart,” hoping to “broaden awareness of available DSP roles, the positive impact they have on the community, and encouraging candidates to apply for available positions within any of the Arc’s 17 chapter affiliates.”
AI Analysis of Healthcare Records Reveals Key Factors in Autism Diagnosis
Scientists argue the criteria we use for diagnosing autism may need revision
Without clear and effective biological tests for autism based on genes, brain or blood measurements, diagnosis today still largely depends on clinical assessment.
The standard way of doing this is by observing how the individual fits the criteria for autism listed in gold standard manuals like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, or DSM-5.
These criteria are divided into two categories: one for restricted or repetitive behaviours, actions, or activities, and another for differences in social communication and interaction. In the end, however, it is the clinician, relying on years of experience, who decides whether the individual is given an autism diagnosis. The degree to which an individuals diagnosed with autism fit the DSM-5 criteria can vary considerably.
HHS Looks for Comment on New Priorities to Improve Maternal and Child Health
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to provide better services for the maternal and child health population, and they are looking for your help.
HHS has recently completed its five-year needs assessment to identify new or emerging priorities for the maternal and child health population.
Some of these priorities are aiming to improve maternal and child health by reducing barriers to postpartum and adolescent mental health care, enhancing infant safe sleep education, expanding access to healthy food, and strengthening support for children with special health needs.
New activities for these priorities will begin on Oct. 1 and run until September 2030.
HHS is inviting the public to comment on these priorities. “We chose to receive public input for our next five-year priorities because we really want to ensure the general public is aware of the work that we are doing and also that we are trying to achieve the right goals,” Kim Hruby, Title V Maternal and Child Health Director with HHS, said.
