Autism Community Gets Its Own Celebrity Spokesperson
For her first official Spokesmom presentation, Braxton will be performing as part of a gala star-studded fundraiser at Lincoln Center. If you're in New York, and can get a sitter for your child with autism, you can be there too! Here are the details from the press release:
Six-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Toni Braxton -- the mother of two children, one of whom was recently diagnosed with autism -- has been named a national celebrity spokesperson for the advocacy organization Autism Speaks, it was announced today by Autism Speaks Co-Founders Suzanne and Bob Wright. In her first official appearance in her new role, Braxton will perform at A Concert for Autism Speaks Featuring Bill Cosby, a star-filled night of comedy and music, on April 9 at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, on Broadway at 60th Street in New York City.One of the more interesting aspects of this announcement is the statement that proceeds "will go toward examining potential environmental causes of autism as well as research on treatments for autism." Since so much of the Autism Speaks research budget, so far, has gone toward genetic research - it's nice to know that they're looking in more than one direction. To find out more about where the research is headed, I've contacted the Autism Speaks media folks; they're digging around to provide the answers. Stay tuned for more info!Proceeds from A Concert for Autism Speaks will go toward examining potential environmental causes of autism as well as research on treatments for autism. NBC News’ Tom Brokaw will serve as the master of ceremonies for the special evening. Tickets are available beginning March 9 through the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office (Broadway at 60th Street, Ground Floor; Monday-Saturday: 10am- 6:00pm, Sunday: 12PM - 6:00PM ; CenterCharge: 212.721.6500; www.jalc.org), at the $100, $75 and $50 levels. For gala and VIP ticket packages, which include a reception, please call 212.245.6570, extension 12.
Comments
I think its great that they are starting this its a disease as well .I think she is wonderful for doing this can they get started in other cites as well .Like jerry lewis.I think there is a speical group thats waiting
Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy is a disorder due to a new gene mutation and is found in sons of mothers who had older fathers at their birth.
De novo autism is a disorder often caused by gene mutations in the sperm and primitive sperm making cells of older fathers. It is believed to also be caused in some cases by mutations carried by mothers who had older fathers similiar to the way the mutation that causes Duchennes is passed on.
Celebrity spokespeople could help if they publicized the link between Duchennes and autism with advanced paternal age.
[Detection of carrier states in progressive muscular dystrophy of the Duchenne X-recessive type.
Frequency of new mutants among boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
K. Bucher 1, Dr. V. Ionasescu 2 *, J. Hanson 2, John M. Optiz
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City
2Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City
*Correspondence to V. Ionasescu, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, IA 52242
Haldane’s rule states that one-third of the cases of an X-linked recessive lethal should represent new mutations. This rule is derived under the assumptions that there is equilibrium between mutation and selection, that mutation rates in ova and sperm are equal, and that heterozygous and homozygous normal women have the same fitness. To test this rule for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), we have examined the mothers of 55 boys with DMD (16 familial and 39 isolated cases) and classified them as carriers or noncarriers on the basis of measures of ribosomal protein synthesis (RPS). Of the 55 mothers, only nine (16.4%) are classified as noncarriers, a figure significantly different from the expected one-third. When the analysis is limited to the 39 mothers of isolated cases, 23.1% (9/39) are classified as noncarriers, still significantly different than expected under Haldane’s rule. Violation of any of the assumptions under which Haldane’s rule is derived could lead to deviations from the expected one-third new mutants. We find the most likely explanation to be a higher male than female mutation rate. This is supported also by the finding that maternal grandfathers in whom a mutation occurred had higher mean age at birth of the carrier daughter (33.7 ± 1.6) than did the general population or intrapedigree controls (29.5 ± 1.3).
If Jerry Lewis had used his Labor Day telethons to warn men to father their children before 31 or 32 he could have done a great deal to prevent Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy. If Toni Braxton mentions to the public the connection between autism and older paternal age and also a family history of autoimmune disorders she can do a great deal to prevent autism