(Oct. 22, 2009) At 18 months of age Braedan Flannery was demonstrating signs of autism. He would cross all his fingers and could not make eye contact with his parents. Braedan was enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), a multi-year study at the University of Colorado Denver funded by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

No one knows the causes of autism. The SEED study is collecting data from hundreds of families with autistic children and looking at factors such as immunization history, environmental factors, genetics and the study is even collecting hair samples to look at metal content. Researchers hope these results will help them better define autism and give them more information on why there seems to be an increase. SEED is currently the largest study in the United States to help identify factors that can put children at risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Braedan is now 4 years old. It has been a difficult time for the family. Braedan’s mom, Tina has quit her job to stay home with Braedan in the hopes of make his life a better one.

The SEED study will be gathering data until the summer of 2010 and then will start analyzing the data. For more information, contact Kristina Hightshoe.