Autism on the Rise—Theories on Causes and Cures
The prevailing belief is that autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors:
“Autism is a developmental disorder. Because brain development follows a complicated series of delicately timed events beginning early in gestation and continuing through infancy and into early childhood, “environmental insults” may occur at numerous time-points, each with a distinct imprint in terms of the processes affected and the intensity of the impact.
Some of those environmental factors may include things like pesticides; flame retardants; ingredients in household products (incl. air fresheners and cookware); compounds used in plastics as well as in fragrances; food contaminants, or by-products of food processing; micronutrients; metals; and medications, especially those that target the central nervous system.
As yet, no research has established any of the above as influencing autism risk. Funding for such studies is woefully inadequate to the task, with most of the research dollars going to studies which primarily describe the phenomenon rather than looking at causes. We need to combine efforts of geneticists with environmental researchers to identify those combinations of genes and exogenous chemical insults that result in the hallmark behaviors of autism and ASD.” - Dr. Irva Herz-Picciotto, CHARGE (CHildhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment) UC Davis.
- There is also strong evidence to support the theory that autism begins in the digestive system, which has been compromised by genetics and further, by poor diet and environmental factors; it is essentially a "Leaky Gut." Some say autism can be cured or at least diminished by following a strict diet, such as the GFCF (Gluten-free, Casein-free) diet. It is thought that when gluten and casein (found in grains such as wheat and most dairy products) are broken down into peptides, they may pass through imperfections in the intestines. These peptides act like morphine in the body and can adversely impact brain development.
- A second diet-based approach postulates that we receive our intestinal flora from our mothers, whether it is good and healthy or otherwise, and then are bombarded with metals,toxins and antibiotics which further weaken it. A digestive system which does not contain healthy flora (good bacteria) cannot eliminate toxins, and allows bad things to pass into our bloodstream. It also cannot get the most nourishment from our food. So say Donna Gates and Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Both have come to the same conclusion: that the modern western diet, which has spread around the world, is essentially the root cause of the worldwide spread of autism and that the cure is already here—one just has to eat the correct food; a mostly plant-based diet with an emphasis on fermented foods. Watch a short six-part video presented by Gates and Campbell-McBride here.
- Stem cell therapy for the treatment of autism is in its early stages and has yet to be proven effective. It is not currently available in the US, but some who’ve traveled to foreign clinics swear that it has drastically reduced signs of autism in their child. According to researchers at the Institute for Cellular Medicine autistic brains have a shortage of oxygen in the areas governing certain functions. Stem cell therapy brings oxygen-rich blood to those areas and accelerated healing; hence, theoretically, autistic behaviors are decreased or eliminated. Here is a Youtube video of what looks like a powerpoint presentation on what stem cell therapy is, and why it (theoretically) works.
- This same oxygen theory is the basis of using Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments (HPOT) to treat autism. This is a recent application; as yet there is no widespread or substantial proof that HPOT works in this instance.
- I found an online audio recording of a presentation given by Professor James Adams at the Autism Society of America Conference (2008). In this nearly 2-hour presentation, he gives compelling evidence to support the autism-mercury connection. This is strong stuff that will have you looking at tuna and dental fillings in a whole new light! (Ignore the prices on the page, this recording is free to listen to, just click the link.)
To view those sites without leaving this one, use your right mouse button and select "open in new tab." You will keep this site open and will have another tab to view those things. Otherwise, to return here just use your back arrow.
| 
