Autism experts, parents and professionals to attend ARI's Defeat Autism Now! Conference

The Autism Research Institute states that many of those diagnosed with autism have underlying medical disorders that are amenable to treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released new estimates that one in every 110 children (1 in 70 boys) is diagnosed with autism. Autism has become more common in our children than cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Autism affects children from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds and places a tremendous economic burden on affected families and society at large, costing up to $3.2 million per child for a lifetime of care and over $35 billion in annual societal cost.

The Autism Research Institute (ARI) was the first organization to call attention to the alarming increase in autism and today has become the hub of a worldwide network of parents and professionals who are seeking answers to what has caused this dramatic increase, and what can be done to help restore health to those affected.  According to Kenneth Bock, MD, Medical Director of ARI, new research is challenging the long-held view that autism is an incurable genetic disorder.  "What we are discovering is that those with autism often times have underlying medical disorders that impair the neurological, gastrointestinal, metabolic and immune systems, and when these problems are treated the symptoms of autism often improve. These medical treatments work synergistically with behavioral and educational programs to provide the best possible outcomes," stated Bock.

On April 9-11 hundreds of autism experts, parents, and professionals from around the world will gather in Baltimore to attend the Autism Research Institute's Defeat Autism Now! Conference held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.