Environmental Causes of Autism

One of the most succinct arguments in support of an environmental theory of autism can be found in a fact cited by autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University :

Autism and Asperger’s syndrome run in families. If there is one child who has a diagnosis on the autistic spectrum, the likelihood of another child also having a diagnosis is about 5-10 per cent, which is higher than the general population rate. Molecular genetic studies are focused on identifying the key genes that might play a role in increasing the risk of a diagnosis. Studies of twins have established that it is not 100 per cent genetic, since even among identical twins, when one has autism, the likelihood of both twins having autism is only about 60 per cent. This means there must also be an environmental component, but what it is remains unknown.

Simon Baron-Cohen, Freedom of Expression, TIMESONLINE, December 14, 2007

What are the unknown environmental components of autism? Mercury is the most often mentioned. Lead is another frequently mentioned environmental suspect. In Autism Can Be Treated Dr. Carolyn Dean lists these and several other possible environmental contributors to the development of autism in some persons and offers her explanation of how these substances can be contributing factors in the development of autism:

When you allow yourself to go beyond the behavioral model of autism you will find research showing that one pivotal metabolic insult to an infant who develops autism is damage to a specific kinase enzyme. In a vulnerable segment of the population, perhaps 10%, a particular gene sequence can be damaged by heavy metals (mercury in children’s vaccines or flu shots and dental amalgams in the elderly), antibiotics, alcohol, and acetaminophin. This vulnerable gene sequence is found in people who have autism and Alzheimer’s; it is the template for creating the kinase enzyme P13. Some researchers refer to this gene sequence as the Alzheimer’s gene, which is damaged early in these children by of overwhelming metabolic insults.

Why is kinase P13 so important? The body requires kinase P13 for many tasks, one of which is to help break down gluten (a wheat, rye, oats, and barley protein) and casein (a milk protein). This same enzyme allows the methylation (or biochemical modification) of certain B vitamins. Without proper methylation of B12 into methylcobalamin and folic acid into folinic acid, hundreds of functions are impaired. For example, if you don’t have methylcobolamine, your liver can’t make glutathione (a powerful antioxidant). Without glutathione the body is not able to detoxify heavy metals. The vicious cycle is complete. The heavy metal that causes the gene damage in the first place is not excreted as it should be and continues to accumulate and cause more damage. So intricate are these pathways that giving children the wrong kind of folic acid or B12 can make matters worse; consequently autism therapy must be overseen by knowledgeable parents and practitioners.

Dr. Dean is an advocate of the DAN protocol which includes behavioral treatment along with the more controversial GF-CF diet treatment. Research is genetic causes of autism has been exploding in recent years, and hopefully will continue to provide more information about autism and its causes. Hopefully too the potential environmental causes of autism, including mercury, will be fully researched and cures developed. Some parents today prefer to find joy in their child's autism but I believe that most would cure their children and give them the richer life to which most of us aspire ...... if a cure were to become available. Given the likelihood of both genetic and environmental causes of autism, working in combination, it seems likely that autism cures will involve treatment or prevention of environmental insults to children with susceptible genetic heritage. Hopefully the necessary research will be permitted to continue and will not be shut down by the next misguided, hysterical, "autism is beautiful", campaign.

(Some) Maine Parents of Children with Autism Embrace DAN Treatment Protocol

The Bangor Daily News is reporting on Maine parents of autistic children who have embraced the DAN protocol for treating their autistic children. The article provides testimonials from parents who endorse the DAN treatment protocol and quotes and references from authorities which describe the DAN protocol as "voo doo" science. The article is a balanced presentation of a controversial autism subject and is accompanied by a companion article reporting on the 1 in 150 prevalence figure and the mainstream recommendations for ABA treatment with judicious use of pharmaceutical applications.

http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=147858&zoneid=500

http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=147862&zoneid=500

Maine parents embrace controversial treatment model for autistic children

By Meg Haskell

Saturday, March 24, 2007 - Bangor Daily News

Their DAN! protocols are based on the premise that autism develops in individuals with a genetically heightened intolerance of certain foods and common environmental toxins.

In these individuals, the theory suggests, prenatal exposure through the mother’s diet, medications, dental fillings and other sources, combined with the onslaught of vaccines, antibiotics and other substances commonly experienced by babies and young children, set off a self-perpetuating metabolic storm. The result is the range of neurological symptoms and behavior associated with autism-related disorders.

DAN! practitioners believe that by interrupting this storm and eliminating the substances that triggered it, individuals can regain their neurological health. The special diets, supplements and other remedies DAN! practitioners prescribe are designed to accomplish this.

...

Among conventional medical practitioners and others in the field, the DAN! approach is at least controversial and often divisive.

"Anyone who’s talking ‘cure’ is talking fraud," said Vincent Strully, founder and executive director of the New England Center for Children in Southborough, Mass.

In a recent telephone interview, Strully said parents who elect to follow the DAN! protocols are gambling with their children’s future by investing time, energy and money in an unproven treatment that builds false hope and is based on "voodoo science."

Despite its endorsement by some well-intentioned medical professionals, Strully said, DAN! is just one of a number of short-lived pseudoscientific fads developed in recent years to capitalize on parents’ desperation.

Parents who wish to enroll their autistic children in his ABA-based education and research program must specifically agree not to dabble in such treatments.

Dr. Don Burgess, president of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is more conciliatory. Burgess, who practices in Kennebunk, emphasized that a link between autism and vaccines has never been proven, and that even though most vaccines no longer contain mercury, rates of autism continue to climb.

The lack of well-designed research studies on the safety and effectiveness of DAN! and similar approaches is disturbing, Burgess said, but he understands parents’ need to explore alternatives for their autistic children.

Dietary changes overseen by a physician or nutritionist are unlikely to hurt children and may even prove helpful, Burgess allowed.

But chelation is potentially dangerous and should be avoided except in cases where a child’s blood level of mercury or lead is extremely high, he said.

From up in Aroostook County, Deb Lipsky says DAN! is "a bunch of bunk." Diagnosed with high-functioning autism just 1½ years ago, Lipsky, 45, has emerged as a popular national speaker and first-hand expert on living with autism. She also facilitates a Bangor support group for parents and others affected by the disorder.

Lipsky, who lives in Linneus, said ABA and other behavioral models "work beautifully" for many children and adults with autism. The group she runs is accepting and supportive of whichever treatments parents explore, she said, but will not tolerate fanaticism.

True believers

Parents who embrace DAN! don’t see themselves as fanatics — just truth-tellers.

"We need to get the message out that autism is a treatable illness," declared Belfast resident and DAN! mother Tina Frank.

Frank leads a local support group for mothers who, like her, follow the DAN! protocols. The group is called MIMRAC — Moms in Maine Recovering Autistic Children. Laura Plourde, who now works for Fredric Shotz in Portland, is a regular visitor to the Belfast meeting and also runs a similar group in Portland.

Frank’s 5-year-old son, Jeffrey, was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 but is now "nearly cured," she said, thanks to the intensive interventions prescribed and monitored by Shotz.

She and the other mothers in the Belfast group are undaunted by the lack of double-blind studies or peer-reviewed articles about DAN! in mainstream medical journals.