Autism

Autism is a very hot topic in the disability community right now. New estimates by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) show that 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism, which has increased since 2007 (estimates were 1 in 150). Recently, UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute has published a study on autism in the January 2009 issue of the journal . Researchers have stated they identified clusters across the state, where children with autism are most likely to be born. They looked at the millions of children born between 1996-2000, how many were diagnosed, and what part of California they were in. They found that the sections of California with the highest incidence of autism to be North LA, West LA, and Orange County (interesting, huh?). They believe that children are affected most by socioeconomic status (SES) and their parent's education levels (no surprise there). This study suggests that "research should shift from genetics to the host of chemicals and infectious microbes in the environment that are likely at the root of changes in the neurodevelopment of CA's children." I have not been able to find a copy of the journal article, but would be interested in seeing it so that I can read it thoroughly and pick apart the methodology. Speaking of the methodology, the researchers eliminated migration as a potential cause of the increase of autism. The study indicated "no more than 56 percent of the estimated 600-to-700 percent increase, that is, less than one-tenth of the increased number of reported autism cases, could be attributed to the inclusion of milder cases of autism. Only 24 percent of the increase could be attributed to earlier age at diagnosis."

Last semester I read "Changing the Course of Autism" by Bryan Jepson, M.D. & Jane Johnson in 2007. This book was extremely interesting. Evidence-based medicine shows that "autism is an epidemic, it is a medical disease (NOT a psychological disorder), it affects other body organ systems besides the brain, and it is treatable; children are recovering." A landmark paper published by Ivar Lovaas of UCLA, showed that children with autism could recover functionally with Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) intervention. This approach modifies behavior through the positive and negative reinforcement of targeted behavior. However, this approach alone is not sufficient in helping reduce symptoms of autism. In 1977, Folstein and Rutter conducted a twin study that indicated that genetics do play a role in autism, but since the incidence in identical twins was not 100% proves that the chromosomal imprint can't be in developing autism. This means that autism is not a genetic disorder, but one has to have a genetic predisposition.

Some consider the hidden horde theory when considering causes of autism. This theory basically states that there is a "hidden horde" of undiagnosed adults with autism in the population. However, this would mean that these undiagnosed individuals would end up where society puts those do not appear to assimilate to the norm: outpatients psychiatric clinics, mental institutions, homeless shelters, or prisons. Nonetheless, NO high quality study has validated the hidden horde hypothesis.

The author of this book feels that autism is a symptom of an underlying disease. Therefore, he feels that autism should be redefined as "a multi-organ metabolic disease" and should be removed from the DSM-IV. Several past studies have shown a higher rate of autoimmune disease in families of children with autism: toxins build up and then more toxins and chemicals are introduced to the individual. Then there is a toxin threshold, where the immune system can't handle the toxins and the damage occurs. Paul Ashwood, immunologist at the M.I.N.D. Institute has researched autism and his research has shown that immune cells' quantity and function are abnormal in children with autism. Studies have shown that the neurological disease in autism does not stem from a single utero event, since the disease is ongoing. In fact, it is hypothesized that "the neuroimmune abnormality could be genetically based or that it could be induced by environment factors, either before or after birth."

Other studies have shown that gluten and casein (cow's milk) have a structure that is similar to opiates like morphine and heroin. In cases where children have autism, peptides attach to the opiate receptors in the brain and act as false neurotransmitters. Furthermore, Fombonne's study suggest that 80% of individuals with autism studied had gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Many individuals with autism have inflammatory bowel disease aka autistic entercolitis. It is hypothesized that "the neurobiological disability in children with autism results from absorption of neurotoxic molecules across a gut membrane damaged by inflammation." Both of these theories can help explain why children with autism have decreased socialization, decreased response to pain, abnormal language skills, and self-abusive or repetitive behaviors. There is little known about the brains of individuals with autism. However, children with autism do have larger-than-normal head circumferences, with correlating larger-than-normal brains. The growth of both the cerebral cortex and cerebellum involve an increase in white matter in the brain. If you are at all familiar with the brain, you know that the cerebellum is responsible for affect, motivation, social interaction, learning, and the processing of motor and sensory information; which could explain some of the characteristics of autism. Furthermore, serotonin levels are different in individuals with autism. Serotonin effects circadian rhythms, mood, sleep, anxiety, motor activity, pain recognition, and cognition. A little known fact, 95% of the body's serotonin is made in the bowel.

Autism has been around for over 60 years, and the author of this book feels that it is one of many symptoms of what is in fact a complex disease.

Possible causes include:
- The disease is primarily neurological, with secondary effects on other organs
- Subtle GI abnormalities begin shortly after birth; and the gut sustains further injury with the introduction of solid foods and cow's milk, creating an inflammatory condition that is initially localized and superficial
- Early repeated damage from toxic substances: exposure to mercury (note: mercury is not causal to developing autism). Thimerosal disrupts dendritic cells in the babies immune system and interrupts methylation, leading to abnormal neurotransmitter function and decreased ability to form glutathione. The baby is then given acetaminophen for the pain/fever, which further disrupts the function of cells. The children are then more susceptible to becoming sick more often, which then requires antibiotics which injure the gut causing abnormal bacteria and yeast to erode the gut lining and cause leaky gut issues.

The authors of the book feel that the third theory is the most logical, as our environment has become more toxic. This means that more people are reaching their personal toxic tipping point aka threshold, which results in more and more chronic immunological disease. Chronic neurological or neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, AD/HD, and autism are also on the rise. As well as, depression, anxiety, OCD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities (LDs). In order to correct the misfiring of neurotransmitters, the dysregulation must be fixed in the first place. Psychoactive and psychotropic medication can and does change the balance of neurotransmitters; however, without correcting the underlying issues, long-term improvements won't be produced.

Thoughts of this current study and the book cited?