A research was presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology about a particular breed of mice now possess an animal model of autism that is believed to be human autism's most accurate counterpart. More details about how this medical break through can benefit mankind after the jump.

Children today are over-exposed to electronic entertainment, junk food and over-competitive schooling. This is not exactly news but there's been some growing concern that this trend is detrimental to children's psychological growth. Turns out it is, and it's manifesting in various ways such as an increased number of students who have a problem with interacting and making friends.

To further clarify the point, government studies have shown that toddlers left in a nursery for more than seven hours a day caused them to be bossy and disruptive. Other studies show that children who gorge on junk food will more likely misbehave. How often do both of these instances happen today? In addition, 70% of teachers believe that the use of games consoles, mobile phones, the internet, and MP3 players hurt the social skills of the children.

An organization called Save The Children claims that this problem could be very harmful to today's youth when they reach adulthood since it will hinder them from forming long-term relationships and interacting with colleagues at work. Charity school development manager Lorna Redden spoke on the difference between then and now and how it will affect the children of this generation:

Children have always played alone, for example with dolls or train sets, but these activities required a certain level of imagination - they stimulated their brains. That is not the case with modern computer games which do children's thinking for them and put them in their own little world. Without the ability to interact at a young age, they could struggle to form relationships later in life.

A long list of problems that children might encounter due to the modern lifestyle include depression, behavioural problems, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Now, this is a wake-up call to those who are rearing their children: it has to change. You can read more on this via our read link.

Conventional medical wisdom says the best thing parents can do with children with autism is to cope. But many are starting to challenge this long-standing recommendation by turning to alternative medicine.

Alternative medicine doesn’t offer the families of autistic children a 100% cure rate. But there are some encouraging news.

M. Cissy Majebe, founder and director of The Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology Clinic, began treating children with autism in 1989. She reported one-third of the about 30 children she treated exhibited excellent results. Improvements were seen in another third, but the treatments didn’t work for the rest of her patients.

Western and Eastern Approach to autism differ. Majebe says while Western medicine looks for a cause, Chinese medicine believes it’s a multi-faceted problem. “We’re not treating a disease or disorder,” Majebe said. “We’re treating a child who has that."

Traditional Chinese medicine isn’t the only option available for parents. Another alternative approach is environmental medicine practice.

Dr. John L. Wilson from the Great Smokies Medical Center, zooms in on nutritional health and detoxification. Wilson believes mercury compounds found in immunizations contributes to the disorder’s development. He also said children with autism have an overgrowth of yeast and bacteria in the gut and food allergies.

He said about six of the children he’s treated have “moved out of the spectrum.”

Steven R. Love, with the Asheville TEACCH Center, said not enough research has been completed to confirm whether alternative medicine works for children with autism. Although he thinks holistic approaches to the disorder could be effective, he cautions parents seeking alternative help. He says if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

But Lori Lesley, a mother who has a six-year old son with autism said “Some of the stuff you try, it does sound kind of crazy but I encourage people to keep looking, trying, to keep fighting for the child.”