The Autism Enigma: The Bacterial Theory of Autism

David Suzuki in Fredericton

Photo by Charles LeBlanc

When David Suzuki speaks people listen as shown in this photo by New Brunswick  blogger Charles LeBlanc taken in the United Church near my office in downtown Fredericton.  As you can see the church was, literally, filled to the rafters. David Suzuki is one of the most trusted voices in Canada in explaining science and the world in which we live.

On Thursday December 8 David Suzuki will be presenting the Autism Enigma on "The Nature of Things".  I have  no idea what will be said, what perspectives will be offered, or whether I will agree with all, or any, of what is said,  but, because it is David Suzuki narrating, I will be shocked if it is not a well informed, balanced and objective discussion of the subject. This "autism dad" will be listening. I encourage others with an interest in understanding possible causes of autism disorders to do the same. 

The following press release was provided by Laurie Mawlam, Executive Director of Autism Canada:

(CORRECTION NOTICE - The Autism Enigma will air at 8 pm Atlantic, not 9 pm as I had previously indicated. HLD)

THE AUTISM ENIGMA,

THE STARTLING NEW DOCUMENTARY FROM COGENT/BENGER,

AIRS ON CBC's "THE NATURE OF THINGS"

THURSDAY DECEMBER 8, 8 PM ET, 8 PM Atlantic

Available for phoners: Marion Gruner, Dr. Derrick MacFabe of University of Western Ontario, Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, Microbiologist at University of Guelph.

TORONTO November 7, 2011. THE AUTISM ENIGMA, the new documentary from the award-winning Cogent/Benger Productions, tackles one of the most contentious issues in medicine today: the various, and often conflicting, hypotheses about autism’s cause. It airs on CBC's "The Nature of Things" on Thursday December 8, 8 PM (ET/PT)(8:30 PM Nfld)(8 PM Atlantic),  with a second window on December 15 (10PM ET/PT. 10:30 Nfld.)(11PM Atlantic).

The film presents the fresh perspective of the “Bacterial Theory” of autism. Director Marion Gruner (a new mother who decided to investigate autism rather than just worry) along with co-director Christopher Sumpton, went beyond celebrity-endorsed theories and common assumptions to make new research accessible and understandable to all parents.

Narrated by David Suzuki, The Autism Enigma is written and directed by Marion Gruner (Pharma Sutra) and Christopher Sumpton (Pedal Power), produced by Christopher Sumpton, Robin Benger (Sex Scandals in Religion, Five Roads to Freedom), and Marion Gruner. Cinematography by Michael Grippo, csc, editing by Matthew Campea, and original music composed by Kevan Staples.

Autism is the fastest rising developmental disorder in the industrialized world. Even accounting for better diagnosis, its numbers have increased by an astounding 600% in the last twenty years. Even more disturbing is that science cannot say why. Research is inconclusive, but the emerging theme is that autism, while possibly stemming from genetic vulnerability, is triggered by environmental factors. Is something in our Western lifestyle proving too much for children to bear? Some say it’s the canary in the coalmine. Many say it’s an emergency.

  

Meanwhile, 70% of children with autism exhibit severe gastrointestinal symptoms, prompting some microbiologists to direct their research to an unexpected place - and ask whether autism actually begins in the gut.  

The Autism Enigma looks at the progress of an international group of scientists examining the gut’s amazingly diverse and powerful microbial ecosystem for clues to the baffling disorder, and the extraordinary efforts of parents who have been relentlessly pushing science forward in hopes of finding answers for their children’s condition.

The documentary features: Laurie Mawlam, Executive Director of Autism Canada, Dr. Derrick MacFabe of University of Western Ontario, Adar Hassan and Idman Roble of the Somali Parent Support Group, Toronto, Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, Microbiologist at University of Guelph, and some children and child care workers from Puzzle Pieces Ltd.

The Autism Enigma is a Cogent/Benger Productions production made in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and ARTE France, and with the assistance of The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

Robin Benger and Christopher Sumpton teamed up in 1997 to produce In Security for the CBC, which then led to Eastside Showdown for the NFB. Cogent/Benger Productions was formed in 1999 to continue in the same vein, producing relevant, creative documentaries such as Sex Scandals in Religion, Five Roads to Freedom, Pedal Power, Porndemic, Pharma Sutra, China’s Leap of Faith, How To Stop a Hurricane, which received  the innovation prize at the Pariscience Film Festival,  Money & The Maker, The In-Between World of MG Vassanji, Destiny: The Life & Times of Paul Anka and Wolverine: Devil Of The North. C/BP's programs have been seen on Canadian networks, such as CBC, CTV and Discovery, as well as internationally. 

Swine Flu Vaccine and Autism Debate: CANWEST & Fitzpatrick Publish 3rd Version of Same Article

UPDATE The original full unedited version of the article is now online again and the 2 cropped versions removed

CANWEST News and Meagan Fitzpatrick have published yet another, a third, version of the article firs published yesterday on the Swine Flu vaccine refueling the autism debate. This 3rd version is expanded to reinsert information about Jenny McCarthy but does not include my comments or more importantly those of UWO researcher Dr. Derrick MacFabe.

The article does not mention that Dr. MacFabe, Dr. Bernadine Healy (a former NIH and American Red Cross head), Dr. Julie Gerberding ( a recent CDC head) and Dr. Jon Poling (a neurologist, professor and father of an autistic child who successfully established a claim in the US vaccine court on behalf of his daughter whose autism was caused by vaccine insult to her pre-existing mitochondrial disorder). All of these people have called for more research on vaccine autism issues. Dr. Derrick MacFabe was mentioned in the 1st of the 3 "autism debate" articles published yesterday but not in the 2 redrafts published today.

The effect of the latest draft is to cast the dispute as one led by actress Jenny McCarthy on the side of those concerned with vaccine autism issues, without any mention of the professional calls for more research on the vaccine autism issue.

H1N1 vaccine arrival refuels autism debate

BY MEAGAN FITZPATRICK, CANWEST NEWS SERVICESEPTEMBER 22, 2009

The much-anticipated H1N1 vaccine has given new life to an ongoing debate about whether vaccinations in children can cause autism, a discussion that will likely heat up as Canada and other countries move closer to releasing the new vaccine.

From one side of the debate come assurances that vaccines are safe and there is no conclusive link to autism; from the other, warnings that there is a relationship and parents should think twice about giving shots to their children.

Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, has repeatedly said that vaccines have a long history of being safe and effective.

Weighing in on the autism debate, he noted that vaccines are given to children at around the same age as when neurological disorders can surface.

"You can have a close time frame," he said.

"Just because something's associated in time does not mean it's causal."

Butler-Jones said he recognizes that parents are searching for answers about autism's cause, but added claims that vaccines are the culprit have not been proven.

"The studies have been pretty clear and consistent that vaccination is not the cause of many of the things that have been claimed around the vaccine,"he said.

The benefits of immunization far outweigh the risks, said Butler-Jones, but he understands people need to think carefully about it.

"It's important that they get the facts -- not the theory, not the conjecture, not the claims -- but the actual facts about what we know about the vaccine and the disease and I think . . . virtually everybody would choose the vaccine," he said.

The theory that childhood vaccines are behind an upsurge of autism cases emerged in the 1990s and in recent years has gained high-profile advocates such as Hollywood star Jenny McCarthy, whose son was diagnosed with autism.

McCarthy is among those who believe children receive too many vaccines, too close together, and that a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal used in some vaccines is harmful. She is passionate about her cause, but she has her critics who are equally fervent on the pro-vaccination side of the debate.

- - -

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

We want to hear from you. Send your comments on this story to

letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include your first and last names, your hometown and a daytime phone number.

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

autism

Swine Flu Vaccine and Autism: Some Disturbing Reporting by Megan Fitzpatrick

UPDATE The original full unedited version of the article is now online again and the 2 cropped versions removed

UPDATE: Shortly after I posted the following blog the article I checked on line and found that the original report from yesterday had been reposted by Megan Fitzpatrick and CANWEST.

The article was modified to omit my comments and those of Dr. Derrick McFabe. The result was to recast the debate as one beween parents and the health care community. For that reason I modified my blog comment title from "refreshingly balanced reporting" to "disturbing reporting". See my next post on this subject for more.

Harold Doherty

I was pleased to see the balanced reporting by Megan Fitzpatrick of CANWEST NEWS SERVICE in her report on the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine and a possible autism connection in Flu vaccine rekindles debate over connection to autism. I was interviewed for that article and Ms Fitzpatrick placed me accurately, and fairly, as being in the middle on vaccine autism issues. I no longer accept without questioning the official opinion that vaccines play no role in causing or triggering autism, and I do not believe that parents' observations of their child's development should be dismissed. I believe that more research needs to be done, a belief inspired by several prominent professionals including Dr. Bernadine Healy, Dr. Jon Poling and Dr. Julie Gerberding.

The article reported comments from Dr David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer, whose voice has been everywhere during this alleged swine flu pandemic. The public positions of Jenny McCarthy are reviewed along with some comments from autism researcher Dr. Derrick McFabe of the University of Western Ontario who stated that parents who believe that their children's autism resulted from vaccinations must be heard.

There have been a string of one sided media reports since the New York Times public relations style interview with Dr Paul Offit. It appears that many journalists have abandoned any pretense of old fashioned objectivity and have chosen to enlist fully in Offit's Army. They repeat ad nauseum his simplistic assertions that the research is "done" and that "science" has conclusively determined that there is no vaccine autism connection. In reading Ms. Fitzpatrick's article it was refreshing to see an honest attempt to convey all sides of the issues from multiple sources.

One omission from my interview that I wish Ms Fitzpatrick had included in her article is that I informed her that my belief that an observational study comparing autism rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated populations should be done is not my original idea. My belief is based on the statements of Dr. Bernadine Healy, Dr. Julie Gerberding, Dr. Jon Poling and other respected professionals who do see a need to conduct further research on possible vaccine autism issues .... and other possible environmental factors causing or triggering autism disorders. Media narratives invariably portray the vaccine debate as one pitting parents against doctors and professionals without mentioning that some credible health care professionals are of the view that the science is not "done" or concluded on these issues, that more research needs to be conducted.

What might be original in my comments is the notion that we may in fact be undergoing an unintended experiment on some vaccine autism issues with the public health authorities response to the current alleged swine flu pandemic. Not everyone agrees that we are in fact facing such a pandemic. Not everyone will be taking the swine flu vaccine. Those who are targeted - pregnant women and young children, will in some cases be receiving shots which include thimerosal and an adjuvant known as squalene which caused serious harm to Gulf War soldiers. If the young children receiving the shots, and the new born children of women who received the shot while pregnant have significantly higher autism rates than those who do not receive the shots will Offit, health authorities, and most of the mainstream media just ignore that information? Will they continue to decree in very unscientific like manner that the science is closed on these issues?

We will only know the answers if the data is recorded and made known. At this time we do not know if that will be done. We do not know if public health authorities will begin to take autism spectrum disorders, and the parents of children with autism, seriously.

We can only hope.

autism

Jenny McCarthy Knocks Over Neurodiversity Hornet's Nest

As expected, Jenny McCarthy’s appearance on Oprah has stirred up the Internet’s Neurodiversity bloggers. During the past week they buzzed about in a paroxysm of sarcastic rage over Ms McCarthy's audacity in speaking out about autism. Some of the Neurodiversity commentary has been mean and snide. Some of it has been outright offensive.

Following is a list of Neurodiversity Hub bloggers who fell over themselves taking cheap shots at Ms. McCarthy and her views on the nature of autism, autism causes and cures. Some, like Mike Stanton, Educator, and Kristina Chew, Educator, Ph.D., felt compelled to belittle her more than once. Ms Chew in fact featured Ms McCarthy in no less than 7 of her commentaries over the past week. What will the Neurodiversity Hub bloggers ever do with themselves until the next autism appearance by Ms McCarthy?

Mike Stanton
Respectful Insolence
Autism Street
Left Brain/Right Brain (Kevin Leitch)
Natural Variation (Joseph)
Autism Diva
One Dad’s Opinion
Autism Vox

Although I do not share her views on autism cause and cure, I respect Ms. McCarthy for speaking up. As noted previously she may yet be proven right, and I may be proven wrong on our differing autism opinions. I have not subscribed to the dietary interventions for autism. But yesterday the Autism Canada conference focused on biomedical interventions with Dr. Derrick MacFabe of the UWO team that reported a gut-brain autism link, and Dr. Martha Herbert of Harvard Medical School. The conference also featured Dr. Wendy Edwards, a paediatrician and mother of an autistic child, who advocates the use of various biomedical treatments including dietary interventions. The Neurodiversity ideologues will have to come up with different ad hominem attacks to use against Dr. Edwards.

Dr. Wendy Edwards, Pediatrician and Autism Mother, Advocates Treating Autism as a Whole Body Medical Illness

The Times Colonist has an article on yesterday's Autism Canada conference and its focus on treating autism as a whole body medical illness. Speakers included Dr. Derrick MacFabe of the UWO team which recently released its findings on proprionic acid and Dr. Martha Herbert of the Harvard Medical School. Much of the article though focused on Dr. Wendy Edwards, a Southern Ontario pediatrician whose son was diagnosed with autism at age 3. The message at the conference as summarized by the Times Colonist is that autism is a full body illness and is not limited to the brain.

Dr. Edwards advocates the use of biomedical treatments in addition to applied behaviour analysis in treating autism. She recommends diets aimed at eliminating toxins and reducing digestive tract inflammation and describes some elements of such diets including melatonin, antioxidants and the GF-CF free diet. Dr. Edwards acknowledges that her biomedical recommendations are not supported by scientific study but questions whether parents should wait while the studies are done:

"Why not do what we feel is working while we wait for the study to prove or disprove it? If we're not out there doing all these things and telling the researchers 'What about this?' the research won't get done."

There are good arguments against the use of experimental treatments for autism or any other medical condition. Financial resources are not unlimited, special diets can often add expense to a family budget already stretched tight particularly if the family is already strapped by the expense of paying for ABA, which although not curing autism, is an evidence based effective health and education intervention. Experimental treatments can also waste time and morale both of which are valuable to a family trying to help their child. Further, some seemingly innocuous interventions might in fact have unforeseen and possibly harmful effects on a child.

Still, if a family can afford the interventions, consults with physicians and does not get their hopes too high, it is difficult to see why they shouldn't try interventions backed by anecdotal evidence of other parents some of whom like Dr. Edwards are also pediatricians themselves. Especially if they do not forgo evidence based interventions in order to try experimental approaches. The UWO Proprionic Acid study grew out of parental observations. Although all parents are not also medical professionals like Dr. Edwards, they are the front line observers of their children's condition.

Autism: A Medical Condition

An autism conference featuring doctors and researchers organized by Autism Canada and featuring Dr. Martha Herbert, Dr. Derrick MacFabe and Dr. Wendy Edwards will take place this Saturday at the University of Ottawa. As the title indicates the focus will be on autism as a medical condition. Gord McDougall at 580 CFRA has commented that "governments have been reluctant to tie autism to health issues, because that would commit them to spending money from the already stretched health envelope." Mr. McDougall's comment is absolutely right.

8 years ago the lead Minister on autism issues being examined by a government of New Brunswick InterDepartmental Committee on Autism Services was the Health Minister. When funding for autism specific services was first announced it was by the Health Minister. Then the programs and leadership on the autism portfolio were transferred to the Department of Family and Community Services. The Province of New Brunswick, like other governments, did not want to acknowledge that autism interventions, particularly Applied Behaviour Analysis sought by so many parents of autistic children, were health care treatments. Autism interventions were characterized as family services to avoid having them characterized as health care treatments and reduce the possibility that a court might order them to be funded under Canada's medicare scheme. As it turned out they needn't have worried. The Auton decision was such that, medical treatment or not, Provinces would not be obligated to fund them under Medicare.

The conference this weekend will focus on autism as a medical condition, biomedical treatments , " the shift in autism paradigm to a whole-body systems approach" and current research.
The Autism Canada web site sets out the full particulars, invites registration on their web site and identifies their target audience as parents, agencies, school personnel, medical professionals, basic research scientists and others dedicated to improving the quality of life for those with ASD.

Proprionic Acid - UWO Scientists Find Potential Autism Gut-Brain Connection

Scientists at the University of Western Ontario, responding to parents' reports of significant improvement in behavior of their autistic children after elimination of wheat and dairy products from their diets, have conducted a lab study using rats which appears to confirm an autism gut-brain connection.

Dr. Derrick MacFabe, director of the UWO research group reported to CBC that the research focused on propionic acid, a short chain fatty acid found in the gut and in bread and dairy products. When the compound was administered to rat's brains:

"They immediately engaged in bouts of repetitive behaviour, hyperactivity and impaired social behaviours which had close similarity to what parents are seeing with autism,"

The rat's brains were later examined and found to contain inflammatory processes similar to those in the brains of autistic children. Screening studies looking at effects of dietary changes in the general population are now under way with MacFabe's team at UWO, Queen's University and Harvard University.

The UWO study reported today will have to be followed up on before conclusions can be drawn. The study itself though is quite revolutionary in so far as it was prompted by observations made by parents of autistic children. Parents' observations of their autistic children are often disregarded or discounted and the greatest long term value of this study may turn out to be that the research team took parents' reports into account as a guide to conducting research into potential causes of autism.