Archive for autism
California Confirms Rise in Autism Cases – (11-07-02)
Posted by: | CommentsCalifornia Confirms Rise in Autism Cases
I know the rising rates of autism has been denied by many in the medical profession, explaining that increased diagnosis is what has accounted for the rise. A 273% increase. Want my opinion? We’re doing something to our kids that are predisposing them to this condition. Multiple vaccinations, food allergies, poor prenatal/pregnancy care? I personally believe that not every child will get autism from the MMR vaccine (which is the vaccine most blamed for the onset), but that a certain percentage of children have the genes that make them susceptible probably when combined with other factors such as a poor diet. This is NOT from the genes…it is from the way we are treating the genes. It takes hundreds of thousands of years for true genetic variation to occur, and this is occurring in decades.
California researchers say that the state is seeing a sharp rise in the number of autistic children–but said they were mystified about what caused the unprecedented spread of the developmental disorder.The report by researchers at the University of California-Davis’ M.I.N.D. Institute released on Thursday showed a 273% increase in the number of autistic children entering various state treatment centers between 1987 and 1998.The findings also indicate that the increase could not be accounted for by other factors such as the misclassification of cases or changing diagnostic criteria.”Speculation about the increase in autism in California has led some to try to explain it away as a statistical issue or with other factors that artificially inflated the numbers,” lead investigator Dr. Robert Byrd said.”Instead, we found that autism is on the rise in the state and we still do not know why. The results of this study are, without a doubt, sobering,” he added.Medical experts say it is difficult to compare California’s autism numbers with other states’ because tracking systems are different. But they say anecdotal evidence indicates rates may also be rising elsewhere in the country.The California study, which was launched this year in an effort to determine why observed cases were increasing, looked at a statewide sample of 684 children from both English- and Spanish-speaking families.But the research did little to solve the mystery.Dr. Byrd’s team found that the rising number of autism cases could not be attributed to a loosening of the criteria for diagnosis, or an appreciable rise in the number of mentally retarded children misdiagnosed as autistic.They also found more than 90% of children in the survey were native born–blowing a hole in theories that the migration of children with the condition to California might be behind the higher numbers.”While this study does not identify the cause of autism, it does verify that autism has not been over-reported” in California, Dr. Byrd said.
INCREASED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM – (12-15-04)
Posted by: | CommentsMETABOLIC BIOMARKERS OF INCREASED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND IMPAIRED METHYLATION CAPACITY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
Ditto to above, with the addition that increased antibiotic use will destroy normal bacterial flora in the gut, and this bacteria can be a strong source of Vit B12. So, could destruction of normal flora with antibiotics be a contributing factor to the increase in autism? Overall, the sad thing is that many of these kids have horrendous diets. My wife had done in-home daycare for awhile. One of the kids she used to watch had a long list of psychological diagnosis, of which ADD was on the list. This same child used to come to the house in the morning eating candy bars for breakfast…
IODINE DEFICIENCY LEADS TO DEFICIT AND HYPERACTIVITY IN OFFSPRING – (12-15-04)
Posted by: | CommentsATTENTION DEFICIT AND HYPERACTIVITY DISORDERS IN THE OFFSPRING OF MOTHERS EXPOSED TO MILD-MODERATE IODINE DEFICIENCY: A POSSIBLE NOVEL IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDER IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
The answer to the origin of ADD/ADHD as well as autism will most likely result in a multi-factorial equation. One thing is for sure–we are doing something different to our kids that is negatively affecting their health and increasing their risk for chronic diseases.
In this study, the concept that kids with ADD/ADHD may have developed a resistance to thyroid hormone as a result of iodine deficiency in the mom is proposed. Iron deficiency, vaccines, antibiotic overuse, poor nutritional quality diets and toxin exposure are all on the list as well. Most likely the answer lies in a mixture of all of these factors.
L-CARNOSINE SUPPLEMENTATION IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM DISORDERS – (09-01-03)
Posted by: | CommentsL-carnosine supplementation in children w/ autistic spectrum disorders
While the treatment of autism with natural agents is only beginning to show up in the literature, this is probably driven by the increasing incidence of this condition.
With this in mind, there have been several natural approaches that seem to help. If you’re really interested in digging into the biochemistry of why some of these natural approaches work, run some searches on “mauve factor” and urine pyrrolic compounds. The biochemistry of these are way to complex to go into here and have been studied for several decades now.
Entrez-PubMed
AUTISM IS A MULTI FACTORIAL DISORDER – (05-29-06)
Posted by: | CommentsEarly Downward Trends in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Following Removal of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines
This is a well-referenced article that looks into the issue that has raised some serious questions about our mindless devotion to vaccinations without question. I personally believe that autism is a multi factorial disorder, but I am fairly positive that mercury in vaccines is a definite player in the picture.
At what point did anyone decide that mercury, a potent neurotoxin, would be okay to be put into a vaccine that would be given to an infant? And how can anyone (including the Institute of Medicine) say that this is not a problem?
Attention Deficit Disorder: Avoid This While Pregnant
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Conditions like autism, attention deficit disorder & asthma in children continue to increase. I believe that exposures in the womb are playing a major role.
The amount of chemicals we are now exposed to are legendary. The EPA registers some 82,000+ chemicals for use in the US, the vast majority of which have never been tested for safety. Then, we have chemicals produced because of the lifestyle choices that we make.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are compounds that are created when fossil fuels are burned. This can include fats (when grilled), incense and candles. Exposure also occurs when PAH hitch rides on dust particles.
The way we prepare our grilled meats can affect the levels of PAH present. Things like cooking slower, adding spices and basting your meat will help to lower the production of PAH.
These compounds and other environmental toxicants have already been shown to affect pregnancy and lead to lower birth weights. Exposure to other toxic compounds in the womb have been linked to the presence of autism.
This particular study looks closer at the affect of exposure to PAH on the development of attention deficit disorder and anxiety in children 6-7 years later. Researchers determined exposures either by sampling the air the pregnant mom was exposed to for contamination or looking at the damage these compounds cause to the blood in the mom or umbilical cord.
There was a clear relationship between the higher exposure levels and the child’s behavior years later.
This is obviously a concern. Dietary choices, exercise, stress levels and choice of a prenatal vitamin are all conscious choices during pregnancy. But not so much for these environmental exposures. These tips may help:
- Grill meat slowly, loaded with spices and marinated (or avoid altogether)
- Avoid incense and candle burning
- Take your shoes off at the door, use air cleaners in larger rooms and dust frequently
- Strictly avoid sealing your driveway while pregnant (just in case it was on the to-do list…)
These approaches, coupled with a good quality diet and a good prenatal, should go a long way to protect your little developing baby for decades to come.
How have you cut your toxic exposure in your life, pregnant or not?
AUTISM IS INFLUENCED BY GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS – (01-17-05)
Posted by: | CommentsMETABOLIC BIOMARKERS OF INCREASED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND IMPAIRED METHYLATION CAPACITY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
Although the powers that be have desperately tried to debunk the idea that autism is environmentally mediated, the research and the physiology seem to point otherwise. Autistic children seem to have a reduced ability to defend against oxidative stress–so the bombardment of a genetically susceptible infant with large amounts of mercury could lead to serious adverse effects on the developing nervous system.
The problem is that we have not yet come up with any way to identify those infants at risk. Until then, vaccinations can be a crap shoot–just stab and hope that child does not have impaired antioxidant defenses…
THE USE OF MERCURY IN THIMEROSAL CONTAINING VACCINES IS INEXCUSABLE – (08-25-08)
Posted by: | CommentsMercury Levels in Newborns and Infants after Receipt of Thimerosal Containing Vaccines
The topic of vaccination is always a hotly contested one. Many pediatricians will not keep a patient in the practice if they are not fully vaccinated. As with any other topic, the answer usually lies somewhere in between. Links between autism, allergies, autoimmune conditions and asthma are of concern for patients.
Doctors say the studies do not support the links. But, studies are always done in a vacuum; real life physiology, however, is not. The development of autism and immune system dysfunctions are not caused by single agents, but rather by the entire breadth of compounds a developing infant is and is NOT exposed to.
That being said, the use of mercury in Thimerosal is inexcusable. Period. Whomever thought that there would be any safe level of a potent neurotoxin like mercury injected into a newborn should be shot. Point blank. Then throw in other physiological problems common in infants today like constipation (which allows more time for mercury that the body is trying to eliminate to be re-absorbed), low phytonutrient intake, near universal use of antibiotics with no concern for normal flora, in-utero exposures to toxic chemicals and you’ve got a physiological time bomb waiting to explode.
Add in heavy vaccination (for many self-limiting diseases like chicken pox) which is WELL documented to skew the cytokine balance to a Th2 profile (run THAT one by your local pediatrician) and it’s no wonder autism is on the rise.
AUTISM AND VITAMIN D – (11-17-08)
Posted by: | CommentsAutism and vitamin D
We are no longer able to dispute the increase in autism in our kids today and explain it away by better diagnosis. We are unequivocally doing something to our children to damage their brains. ADD/ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety–we are seeing more DSM-IV classifications in our kids and more medication use than ever before. And it just seems to be getting worse.
This author suggests that Vit D deficiency in the womb may be a contributing factor and lists some compelling arguments. Given that Vit D is a player in so many other conditions, this sounds reasonable but is likely not the only player in the game. What may be the most disturbing is that there is increasing evidence that environmental exposures in the womb permanently change the way a newborn’s genes are expressed, a process called epigenetic modification. Some of these changes may not be reversible.
PREVALENCE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Posted by: | CommentsAutism rates going up at alarming rate. Make no mistake–our kids are being exposed to more chemicals and poorer nutrition than ever before and we’re seeing the price in their brains. The problem likely begins in the wombs, were the unborn child is exposed to literally hundreds of toxic compounds, from BPA in plastics …to flame retrardants to DDT. It is literally damaging their DNA even before birth.
The only way to turn this tide is to understand that during pregnancy we are making choices that may not show up for the next 50 yrs! Only the highest quality food, minimize chemical exposure, high quality pre-natal (NO prescriptions prenatals!), stress free and exercise.
