By Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Over the last decade, clinics have popped up across Southern California and beyond advertising something called magnetic e-resonance therapy, or MERT, as a therapy for autism.

Developed by the Newport Beach-based company Wave Neuroscience, MERT is based on transcranial magnetic stimulation, a type of brain stimulation that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, migraines and smoking addiction.

Clinics licensing MERT have claimed that their trademarked version of the treatment can also produce “miraculous results” in kids with autism, improving their sleep, emotional regulation and communication abilities. A six-week course of MERT sessions typically costs $10,000 or more.

The FDA hasn’t approved MERT for this use. However, prescribing drugs or devices for conditions they aren’t approved for, which is known as off-label prescribing, is a legal and common practice in medicine.

But when such treatments are offered to vulnerable people, a group of researchers argue in a new peer-reviewed editorial in the medical journal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, they should be evidence-based, clearly explained to patients and priced in a way that reflects the likelihood that they will work as advertised.

Most clinics advertising off-label TMS as a therapy for autism don’t meet those standards, the researchers say.

Autism is “the biggest off-label business . . . [and] the one that is the greatest concern,” said Dr. Andrew Leuchter, director of UCLA’s TMS Clinical and Research Service.

Leuchter is one of three researchers with TMS expertise who recently called for the establishment of ethical guidelines around off-label TMS marketing in the field’s primary journal.

Written with Lindsay Oberman, director of the Neurostimulation Research Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, and Dr. Holly Lisanby, founder of the NIMH Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit and dean of Arizona State University’s School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering, the editorial singles out MERT as an “example of off-label TMS where there is negligible evidence of efficacy.”

“There is extremely limited scientific evidence at present that any form of TMS has efficacy and safety in improving the core symptoms of language, social skills, or behavioral disturbances associated with ASD,” the editorial states. “Websites and other promotional materials that fail to acknowledge this limited evidence-base can create a risk of bias and potential for false expectations.”

Dr. Erik Won, Wave’s president and chief medical officer, did not respond to requests for comment.

A Times investigation last year found there are no large scientific studies demonstrating that MERT is significantly better than a placebo at improving speech and communication challenges associated with autism. Wave has not conducted any clinical trials on MERT and autism.

Won said last year that Wave is working to obtain funding “for further studies and ultimately an FDA indication.”

Websites for clinics offering MERT often feature written testimonials from parents describing what they saw as positive changes in their children’s moods or spoken-language abilities after treatment sessions.

Without data, however, there is no way to know whether a patient’s anecdotal experience is typical or an outlier, according to Zoe Gross of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit group run by and for autistic adults.

“Be wary of therapies that are sold to you with testimonials. If you go to a clinic website and they have dozens of quotes from parents saying, ‘This changed my child’s life in XYZ ways,’ that isn’t the same as evidence,” Gross told The Times last year.

Related Articles

Disease of 1,000 faces shows how science is tackling immunity’s dark side

Trump unveils deal to expand coverage and lower costs on obesity drugs

Racial health disparities could widen as states grapple with Trump cuts, experts warn

Congressional stalemate creates chaos for Obamacare shoppers

Trump’s HHS orders state Medicaid programs to help find undocumented immigrants

A therapy could have only a 1% success rate, she said, and still yield dozens of positive testimonials once thousands of people have tried it.

For families unsure of whether a particular commercial therapy might be valuable for their child, “ask the advice of a clinician or an autism scientist who is not connected to the facility providing a service, just to get a frank appraisal of whether it’s likely to be helpful or likely to be worth the money,” said James McPartland, director of the Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health, who is currently studying the relationship between TMS and social perception in autistic adults. “Before you want to ask someone to spend resources on it, you want to have a certain degree of confidence [that] it’s going to be useful.”

©2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Whether you share one credit card account or you juggle multiple cards at once, managing credit cards with a partner requires a lot of coordination.

Related Articles

Trump is ramping up a new effort to convince a skeptical public he can fix affordability worries

‘No hire’ job market leaves unemployed in limbo as threats to economy multiply

Travelers face cancellations and frustration as the FAA orders flight cuts due to the shutdown

Zuckerberg, Chan shift bulk of philanthropy to science, focusing on AI and biology to curb disease

Cottage Grove City Council OKs environmental statement for proposed mine in Mississippi River bed

It’s not just about day-to-day spending decisions where you agree upon which card to use at the grocery store and which to use at the doctor’s office. The way you use credit can help or hinder your shared financial goals, and that can affect your happiness as a couple.

Even if you maintain separate finances, your actions affect your whole household. It’s important to have candid, frequent talks about your credit card use so you can work toward a shared set of money goals.

Check in regularly

Scheduling money dates is crucial to managing your credit cards together. Set aside uninterrupted time where both of you can fully focus on the conversation — no dinner burning in the oven, no small children tugging on your pant legs. “Don’t have these talks when you’re tired, hungry or stressed. If someone’s in a bad mood, wait,” says Erika Wasserman, a certified financial therapist based in South Florida. “You both need to be in a place to receive information, not just share it.”

Once you establish a good time to talk, you also need to commit to a productive and emotionally safe conversation. One or both of you may be coming to the table with debt or spending habits you’re not proud of, but if you can be honest without fear, you can make more progress.

Talk about the things you’re struggling with. Perhaps the rewards program on one of your cards is too complex and you’re not using the card’s benefits, or you feel like it’s too easy to impulse-shop online.

Maybe one of you forgot to pay a credit card bill that month and you’d like to prevent that from happening again. Money dates are where you air out your issues so you can solve problems.

Create your shared credit strategy

Use your money date discussions to craft a list of actions to take, such as a plan for paying down debt, an agreement about who is responsible for paying which bills, or a strategy for using rewards cards for specific purchases.

“The key question is, ‘What outcome are you looking for?’” Wasserman says. “Then work backward from there.”

A money date won’t be a one-time event. Set up future meetings — perhaps quick weekly chats to discuss upcoming expenses, plus monthly or quarterly conversations to check in on longer-term goals. If one person takes on the sole responsibility for a task, like paying all credit card bills, check-ins can also keep them accountable so the other person isn’t left in the dark if a bill isn’t paid.

Carry the right credit cards for you

Don’t just talk about how to use the credit cards you have. Ask yourselves if you should still be using those cards at all.

“Equip people with tools that fit their behavior. If one partner struggles with credit cards, they should use a debit card, or even cash, while the other uses credit,” says Brian Page, accredited financial counselor and founder of Modern Husbands, where he helps couples manage their daily finances in their homes as a team. “This isn’t about control or economic abuse. It’s acknowledging that some folks aren’t well-suited to that tool while still working toward shared goals like qualifying for a mortgage at a good rate.”

Also consider whether you’ve outgrown any of your credit cards. Perhaps you travel differently than before, or your spending habits changed after you moved to a new city.

“I once worked with a couple who still had a Disney credit card from when their kids were small,” Wasserman says. “Years later, they realized they had $600 in Disney points, but no plans to go back to Disney anytime soon.”

At least once a year, look through your wallets. Have you stopped using any of your cards? Do any of them have unredeemed rewards you can still cash in? If you’re paying annual fees, do you get enough value out of your cards to offset them?

It could make sense to shop around for a new card, or perhaps upgrade or downgrade an existing one.

Set up systems for ongoing progress

Page recommends diagnosing the root cause of credit card issues, so you can put systems in place that will help you long after your motivation to change fades away. Switching to a new card might be all you need to do right now, but if spending habits are a problem, fixing them can take long-term commitment.

If overspending is an issue for you or your partner, make it harder to spend. Delete shopping apps from your phone and credit cards from your digital wallet. Don’t save card numbers online. When you feel the urge to buy something, taking the extra time to find your credit card in another room and manually entering the number will give you just enough time to reconsider.

“Make it slightly inconvenient to buy impulsively,” Page says. “Make it easy and automated to do the right things.”

Sara Rathner writes for NerdWallet. Email: srathner@nerdwallet.com.

The article Two People, Many Credit Cards: How Couples Can Manage Credit Together originally appeared on NerdWallet.

By DAMIAN J. TROISE, Associated Press Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell in morning trading on Wall Street Friday and are on track for their first weekly loss in the last four.

Related Articles

Trump is ramping up a new effort to convince a skeptical public he can fix affordability worries

‘No hire’ job market leaves unemployed in limbo as threats to economy multiply

Travelers face cancellations and frustration as the FAA orders flight cuts due to the shutdown

Zuckerberg, Chan shift bulk of philanthropy to science, focusing on AI and biology to curb disease

Cottage Grove City Council OKs environmental statement for proposed mine in Mississippi River bed

The S&P 500 fell 0.7% in the morning trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 143 points, or 0.3%, as of 9:51 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.2%.

The market was weighed down by technology stocks, especially several big names with huge valuations that give them outsized influence over the direction of the market. Overall, there were more gainers than losers within the S&P 500, but the index was dragged down by a 2.5% drop for Nvidia and a 2.1% drop for Broadcom, among others big names losing ground.

Wall Street remained focused on the latest quarterly reports and forecasts from U.S. companies.

Payments company Block, which operates the Square and Cash App businesses, sank 10.9% after turning in results that fell short of forecasts. Exercise equipment maker Peloton jumped 6.1% after its results beat estimates.

Expedia Group surged 17.5% after beating analysts’ quarterly earnings forecasts.

Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.10% from 4.09% late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury remained at 3.56% from late Thursday.

Markets in Europe fell and markets in Asia closed lower. China reported that its exports contracted 1.1% in October, as shipments to the United States dropped by 25% from a year earlier. But economists expect Chinese exports to recover after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed last week to de-escalate the trade war between the two largest economies.

By ROB MAADDI, Associated Press Pro Football Writer

It’s OK to not be OK.

Every conversation about mental health includes that important statement and a message that tough times don’t last, things will get better and help is available.

The NFL and the rest of society have come a long way in dealing with mental wellness. The stigma surrounding it has changed. The “suck it up” and “tough it out” mentality are long gone.

Players are encouraged to prioritize their mental well-being. They’re told to seek professional support if needed. They have more resources available to them now. The NFL and NFL Players Association in 2019 made it a requirement to have a licensed behavioral health clinician on the staff of each team.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Helplines outside the U.S. can be found at www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts.

The Indianapolis Colts launched “Kicking The Stigma” in 2020, the Irsay family’s initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders. Breaking down barriers surrounding mental health was a personal mission for Colts owner Jim Irsay, who died in May at age 65. His youngest daughter, Kalen Jackson, is leading the cause and has talked openly about dealing with anxiety.

Many former and current players have opened up about their personal struggles in an effort to raise more awareness about a topic that used to be a silent illness.

Former Eagles star Brian Dawkins used the platform of his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 to share publicly about his battle with depression. Dawkins overcame suicidal thoughts to become one of the greatest safeties in the history of the sport. Now, he’s on a crusade to educate people about mental wellness.

“I have grown leaps and bounds because of the things that I’ve gone through, and that’s one of those things I went through,” Dawkins said on the stage after receiving his gold jacket. “When I say, went through, that means I came on the other side of it. So for those who are going through it right now, there’s hope. You do have hope. There is something on the other side of this. Don’t get caught up where you are. Don’t stay where you are. Keep moving. Keep pushing through.”

Again, it’s OK to not be OK.

Sadly, this message doesn’t always get through to someone who needs to hear it the most.

Related Articles

Supreme Court weighs longshot appeal to overturn decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide

‘No hire’ job market leaves unemployed in limbo as threats to economy multiply

Today in History: November 7, first woman elected to Congress

Zuckerberg, Chan shift bulk of philanthropy to science, focusing on AI and biology to curb disease

Judge orders release of US Border Patrol head Gregory Bovino deposition videos: Watch them here

On Thursday, the NFL mourned the loss of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. Police in a Dallas suburb say the 24-year-old Kneeland was found dead of an apparent suicide after evading authorities in his vehicle and fleeing the scene of an accident on foot.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott lost his older brother, Jace, by suicide in 2020. Teammate Solomon Thomas’ older sister Ella took her own life in January 2018 at 24 years old.

Thomas, a first-round pick in 2017, had just completed his first season with the 49ers. His sister’s loss led to anxiety, depression and sadness.

“I wish you knew it was going to be (OK),” Thomas wrote on Instagram above a photo of Kneeland. “I wish you knew the pain wouldn’t last and how loved you are. I wish you knew how bad we wanted you to stay.”

News of Kneeland’s death hit hard for players and coaches across the league.

“It hurts your heart,” Buccaneers veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard said in Tampa Bay’s locker room. “This game is great and everything; it is one of everybody’s childhood dreams to come and play at this level, but that is the real-life stuff people go through. You just never know, so (it) puts things in perspective for you every day that you walk into this building, being grateful and just checking on your brothers as well, make sure everything is OK with them mentally. This game is a lot on us and people tend to forget the real-life aspect of it. It hurts your heart to see.”

A second-round pick in 2024, Kneeland scored a touchdown after recovering a blocked punt on Monday night against Arizona. It was a highlight moment in what seemed to be a promising career.

Tragically, he’s gone.

Nobody has to suffer alone, there’s plenty of help available and it’s OK to not be OK.