Posted on 03/23/2007 8:26:09 PM PDT by neverdem
The devastating derangements of autism also show up in the gut and in the immune system. That unexpected discovery is sparking new treatments that target the body in addition to the brain.
“There were days I considered shutting the garage door and letting the car run until I was dead,” says Colorado mom Erin Griffin, of the time nine years ago when she learned that both her boys—not just her firstborn—suffered from autism. Brendan, her angular, dark-haired older child, was diagnosed in 1996 at age 4. Kyle, her round-faced, hazel-eyed younger son, was diagnosed in 1998 at age 2½.
But Kyle and Brendan’s story does not have a tragic ending. After interventions that included occupational and speech therapy, as well as dietary change and nutritional supplements, both boys improved significantly. Their tale of slow, steady recovery reflects the changing landscape of autism today. The condition, traditionally seen as genetic and originating in the brain, is starting to be viewed in a broader and very different light, as a possible immune and neuroinflammatory disorder. As a result, autism is beginning to look like a condition that can, in some and perhaps many cases, be successfully treated.
That is astonishing news about a disorder that usually makes headlines because it seems to be growing rapidly more widespread. In the United States, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders has increased about tenfold over the past two decades, and a 2003 report by the Centers for Disease Control suggests that as many as one in every 166 children is now on the autism spectrum, while another one in six suffers from a neurodevelopmental delay. This explosion of cases has raised countless questions: Is the increase real, is it the result of increased awareness and expanding diagnostic categories, is it due to environmental...
(Excerpt) Read more at discovermagazine.com ...
Ping
"Dietary Change" probably includes total elimination of wheat gluten and caesin (milk protein). You could expect miraculous results on a wide spectrum of chronic physical and mental health issues by removing these and/or similar foods like tomatos, corn, soy, citrus, and possibly potatos - depending on genetic disposition.
But the research isn't really there to support anything other than gluten and milk protein as a cause of serious long-term disease, just anecdotal evidence and chemical similarity - and this is probably why the non-gluten non-milk diet only helps ~20% of autistic people.
Funny they didn't actually mention the responsible culprit. Oh well, we now return you to tax-payed subsidized commercials about how great whole grains and dairy are for you.
If you like the really technical stuff this is a good read on the topic:
http://www.autismwebsite.com/ARI/dan/reichelt.htm
"Peptides are excreted in increased amounts in autism and some of these are opioids.
The excreted peptides may explain the social isolation as expected form opioids (33). Also trophic changes may be due to opioid peptides, as such compounds to have effects on brain maturation (30,31 )."
Or in English, these autistic people are testing positive on a drug screen for opium. The opium can be traced back to a cow and wheat source.
And now, some commercials from tax payer subsidized drugs that attempt to cover the symptoms.
What would that leave for anybody to eat??
Thanks for the link to the paper!
Steaks and beer. Could be worse ;)
I have a test I need to send in to test my son for the peptides. He definitely has a major problem with gluten, but no other tests can show why, so it's hard to get doctor buy-in.
John Edwards vs. Babies and Moms
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
REVERSAL OF SYMPTOMS IN AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Rett Syndrome is reversed in genetic mouse model
Cincinnati, OH (February 8, 2007) -The Rett Syndrome Research Foundation (RSRF) announces results of a landmark study reversing the symptoms of Rett Syndrome (RTT) in a genetic mouse model. The findings, by Adrian Bird, Ph.D., of the University of Edinburgh and Chairman of the RSRF Scientific Advisory Board, appear online in Science Express on February 8, 2007. Rett Syndrome is a severe childhood neurological disease that is the most physically disabling of the autism spectrum disorders. The experiments were funded by the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation (RSRF), the Wellcome Trust and the Rett Syndrome U.K./Jeans for Genes.
Yeah....and get those mercury fillings replaced.
Please tell me: What's the difference between a global warming scaremonger and you?
As far as I can tell, not a whole hell of a lot.
APf
THANKS.
REF MARKER
Thanks for the link.
Bttt for later...
The wife of one our local police officers has a slightly different consequence to her wheat/gluten allergy. It prevents her from absorbing calcium and caused osteoporosis. The bones in her feet were having hairline fractures from running.
What's wrong with "tomatos, corn, soy, citrus, and possibly potatos?"
Some friends of mine have an autistic daughter. They said that caring for her became easier and she seemed a lot happier when they finally discovered she needed a wheat-free diet.
Her big thing is playing in water. When she visited our house, even after running water over her hands in the kitchen and bathroom for hours, she was still trying to drag me back over to the sink. She doesn't talk but obviously knows what she likes.
For AM. Close enough ... ;-)
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