12-Year-Old Autistic Boy Develops Own Theory of Relativity

Daily Mail-

A 12-year-old child prodigy has astounded university professors after grappling with some of the most advanced concepts in mathematics.

Jacob Barnett has an IQ of 170 - higher than Albert Einstein - and is now so far advanced in his Indiana university studies that professors are lining him up for a PHD research role.

The boy wonder, who taught himself calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry in a week, is now tutoring fellow college classmates after hours.

And now Jake has embarked on his most ambitious project yet - his own 'expanded version of Einstein's theory of relativity'.

When taking pills can be better than talking

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12716742http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12716742 ...

Children With Tourette Syndrome Have Better Motor Control, Study Finds

THURSDAY, March 24 (HealthDay News) -- Children with Tourette syndrome perform behavioral tests of cognitive motor control more quickly and accurately than those without the disorder, a new study found.

Tourette syndrome is characterized by repeated involuntary sounds and physical movements called tics, which may involve blinking, grimacing, shrugging, twisting, grunting or -- in rare adult cases -- blurting out swear words.

The enhanced cognitive motor control in people with Tourette syndrome arises from structural and functional changes in the brain that likely result from the need to constantly suppress tics, according to the authors of the study, which was published online March 24 in the journal Current Biology.

"The motor outputs of children with Tourette syndrome are under greater cognitive control. You might view this as their being less likely to respond without thinking, or as being less reflexive," Stephen Jackson, of the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, said in a journal news release.

MRI exams also confirmed that the "Tourette's brain" showed changes in the white-matter connections that allowed different brain areas to communicate with each another, Jackson added. The study findings may help explain why some people with Tourette syndrome who have profound tics during childhood are relatively tic-free by early adulthood, while others continue to have severe tics throughout their life, the researchers said.

The findings also suggest that people with Tourette syndrome may benefit from "brain training" techniques that help them gain control of their symptoms.

More Information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about Tourette syndrome.

ADHD Affects Women Differently: What to Look For and How to Fix It

Millions of adults suffer from this so-called kid's condition that can cause memory problems, depression, and more. Are you one of them? Here's how to find out.

Health.com- Episodes of forgetfulness and distraction happen to all of us, and for most that’s all they are—episodes. But nearly 5 million American women have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, a neuro behavioral condition marked by poor memory, the inability to concentrate on important tasks, and a tendency to fidget and daydream, among other symptoms. For them, this kind of distraction isn't temporary at all and can actually be crippling.

When adult ADHD (or ADD—the H is sometimes omitted because hyperactivity often isn't a symptom, especially in adults) goes untreated for years, women may end up plagued by anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

"They may feel as though they're constantly being judged—as flighty, inept, late, disorganized, scattered," says Tracy Latz, MD, a psychiatrist and associate clinical professor at Wake Forest University Medical Center. And even if women seek help, the condition may go overlooked or be misdiagnosed.

Helping the Easily Angered Child

We all know the type. If we don't have one among our own kids, we have no problem coming up with at least a couple who live on our block or are the children of our close friends. I'm talking about the easily-angered kid.

This is the child who seems to be set off by next to nothing, who goes from fine to furious in less time than it takes to say, "Whoa, let's stay calm."

Children who are quick to anger may be sweet and agreeable, but when the anger gets set off, they turn into raging devils with little control over their actions. Author Dr. Michelle Borba, on her Reality Check blog, lays out 6 Steps to Help Kids Learn Healthier Ways to Display Anger. These include:

1. Helping the child to identify anger warning signs
2. Helping him or her recognize potential anger triggers
3. Developing a feeling vocabulary for him or her
Helping to develop healthy anger management skills
4. Using time out when inappropriate anger persists
5. Creating “time in” spots to help alleviate outbursts

(See her blog where she elaborates)