Breakthrough Discovery on the Causes of Autism

[RandySF]

While we don't have all the answers, and more research is needed to identify and validate the causes and treatment of autism, there are new signs of hope. A study just published in The Journal of the American Medical Association by researchers from the University of California, Davis called "Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism" (i) discovered a profound and serious biological underpinning of autism -- an acquired loss of the ability to produce energy in the cells, damage to mitochondria (the energy factories in your cells), and an increase in oxidative stress (the same chemical reaction that causes cars to rust, apples to turn brown, fat to become rancid, and skin to wrinkle). These disturbances in energy metabolism were not due to genetic mutations, which is often seen in mitochondrial problems, but a condition the children studied acquired in utero or after birth.

Bottom line, if brain cells cannot produce enough energy, and there is too much oxidative stress, then neurons don't fire, connections aren't made and the lights don't go on for these children. In fact, this problem of energy loss is found in most chronic disease and aging -- from diabetes to heart disease to dementia. Brain function and neurodevelopment in particular are highly dependent on energy.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/autism-research-discovery_b_794967.html

[Warren DeMontague]

1. I'll wait to hear it from someone who isn't trying to sell a book and a diet plan.

Thanks.

[arendt]

12. I agree; but, the concept is sound...

growing brains probably put the biggest load of any cell onto their mitochondria.

There are a lot of attempts to explain why only certain areas of the brain fail in Parkinson's and Alzheimers' when the insult is applied to all brain cells. The usual conclusion is that the areas that have the most demand for adequate nutrition are the first to die.

So, in the case of autism, where they can't even identify which part of the brain is failing, the idea of a metabolic cause is quite sound.

But yeah, the author sounds like a slimy, new age, shill.

[Warpy]

13. Agreed, but this fits with cord abnormalities that have been documented

at birth in children who later developed the signs of autism. Likely the whole picture is of genetic susceptibility plus some sort of insult in the womb, possibly related to oxygenation across the placenta.

Whatever the whole picture turns out to be, it's nothing parents do or don't do to the child after birth.

[tabatha]

2. Yep, lack of adequate nutrition

can affect Mitochondrial function.

[Stargazer99]

3. It sounds highly probable

[Maru Kitteh]

6. It's designed to sound highly probable. That's how he plans to get rich.

lack of educated scrutiny

[KamaAina]

4. "the lights don't go on for these children"?!

So all this time I've been posting to DU in the dark??? :wtf:

[SoCalDem]

7. People I know who have autistic children say just the opposite happened

The lights were ON..and the children were progressing normally and then... it reversed..sometimes suddenly..other times gradually..

These are all "experienced" parents whose other children had been observed keenly, and their progress well-documented in their baby books..

The lights were burning brightly....and then they just started going out:cry:

[KamaAina]

14. They're describing the regressive or "Kanner-type" form

one of several distinct subtypes.

The point is, several of us right here at DU have autism in one form or another, and our lights are most definitely on.

Now, if I could just figure out what the difference is between me and the kids you describe, I'd have a nice corner office somewhere, and a sweet gig on the lecture circuit...

[Odin2005]

5. This autistic doesn't trust any "science" story from HuffPo. They peddle in woo.

[eShirl]

8. +1

[earth mom]

9. K & R! nt

[BlueIris]

10. Interesting, but merits (much, much, much) more research. nt

[elfin]

11. I think this guy is a quack

Whenever I read his stuff on Huff, I find it to be gobbledegook and looking like some kind of infomercial. If it appears on Science Daily, then I will judge it to be more reputable.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/