http://www.autismuk.com/index1sub5.htmPart 1. How did our kids get into this mess?
While I do not have a complete answer, medical research is certainly giving us some significant clues. The State of California has been tracking autism for years and the incidence has increased by 400% in the past 12 years. Within the next few years I believe the immunological etiology (what causes it) of autism will be well documented. Here are a few clues:
1) Schizophrenia and autism have similar findings of blood and urinary opioid excesses. Reference Dr. Robert Cade, University of Florida. Schizophrenia is also associated with elevated levels of IL-2 (a chemical messenger of the immune system). I suspect autism also has increased IL-2.
2) In young children, autism is often cured or greatly helped by removal of casein and gluten: Shattock, Reichelt, Cade, Freidman. Gluten and casein have immune, as well as neurotransmitter impacts. Gluten and casein therefore have the ability to cause immune dysregulation and neurotransmitter imbalance. Fudenberg and Cade.
3) Many autistic children have a history of either frequent early ear infections or milk/formula intolerance. The frequent infections may affect sound input during critical phases in brain development. These infections may also influence the immune system in adverse ways making vaccine reactions more likely. They may further be caused by immune changes caused by vaccines. Lastly, the weakness in the immune system may be a sign of actual immune deficiency, as with IgA deficiency (seen in about 20% of autistics – Gupta). The problems with formula point to casein intolerance from an early age.
4) Many autistic children have ileolymphnoid hyperplasia or an inflammatory bowel-like disorder. Wakefield et al Lancet, Feb 28, 1997 - this seems correlated with an MMR vaccine reaction. The gut problems with autism are often extensive. Horvath at the University of Maryland has seen significant esophageal reflux problems. We know both constipation and diarrhea are common complaints in autism. Both may result from immune injury to the gut as well as neurological regulation problems. Diet also contributes to these symptoms. We do see other pathogenic causes of diarrhea on autism. Parasites, bad bacteria, and yeast may all account for GI distress. The GI neurohormones, like secretin are also important for brain function. See you really are what you eat – or maybe what your gut tells your brain after you eat.
5) Most autistic children are allergic to some foods, inhaled pollens or mold. These allergic reactions disrupt normal immune balance and alter interleukin 2 levels (again, one of my pet theories currently under investigation) exacerbating their symptoms. Interleukin-2 overproduction is implicated in schizophrenia type symptoms (as noted):
Psychoneuroimmunology and the cytokine action in the CNS: implications for psychiatric disorders.
Authors: Muller N , Ackenheil M Psychiatric Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 1998 Jan;22(1):1-33
There is much more if you are interested, just click on the above link.
