A New Model Offering Hope for Autism Recovery

Gail Szakacs, MD and Nancy O’Hara, MD offer us a new model offering hope for autism recovery in this article.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an increasingly common disorder characterized by impairment in social interaction and communication, as well as restricted repetitive and stereotyped behavior patterns.

CDC data before 1990 reported approximately 3 cases per 10,000 children. The CDC now reports that the rate is 1 in 68 children. These alarming numbers signal a widespread epidemic and mandate a change in how we approach the evaluation and management of these children.

The older model of ASD confines it to a brain disorder that is genetically determined and offers no treatment other than behavioral, speech, and occupational therapy.

What Is Autism?

The newer model suggests that ASD is a systemic disorder that affects the brain. There is a genetic predisposition with one or more environmental triggers that act as a tipping point into illness and result in whole body dysregulation characteristic of ASD.

The internal dysregulation in one or more organ systems manifests as changes in behavior, cognition or physical or emotional regression. Potential underlying problems include, but are not limited to:

Within this newer model of autism recovery, the evaluation of environmental triggers and treatment of underlying medical problems often leads to improvement and make recovery possible. As Michael Gershon points out in his book, The Second Brain, everything that fuels our brain goes through the gut.

This gut-brain axis is often wounded from poor dietary habits and abnormal germ overgrowth (yeast, bacteria, parasites), and these changes can trigger significant negative behavioral, physical, and cognitive effects.

The Role of Nutrition

Early poor nutrition (including mom’s nutrition during pregnancy and while breastfeeding) during periods of critical brain development is a common problem. If poor nutrition continues or develops later, it can still have a negative impact.

The relationship between dietary peptides (like gluten and casein) and neurologic function and behavior is well documented as well.

Horvath, et al, and others, have shown that increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) can allow poorly digested peptides (as well as toxins, allergens, etc.) into the bloodstream where they can trigger inflammation, immune dysregulation, and affect neurologic and psychological function.

In terms of general nutrition, it is clear that basic vitamins and minerals are essential to cognitive function. Various researchers have found low levels of vitamins and minerals in children with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as cognitive, behavioral, and academic improvement in those receiving specific supplementation.

For instance, iron deficiency can be associated with lower IQ scores, poor focus, and impaired memory. Also, insufficient fatty acid levels often contribute to hyperactivity, poor attention span, psychological problems, and certain skin rashes. Anecdotally, the list of natural vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that have helped ASD children with various cognitive, behavioral, and physical impairments is extensive and convincing.

Studies have also shown that supplementation with agents like magnesium, acetyl-L-carnitine, pycnogenol, and other vitamins and minerals can improve such things as hyperactivity, stimming, anxiety, focus, and cognitive function.

Other Causes

Poor diet, stress, trauma, allergens, infections/abnormal germ overgrowth, and toxic metals and environmental toxins and chemicals can cause oxidative stress and increase the overall toxic load. This increased load further burdens the immune and other body systems and results in behavioral and cognitive changes.

In fact, many chemicals and metals are recognized causes of neurodevelopmental disorders and subclinical brain dysfunction. It has been shown repeatedly that exposure during early fetal development can trigger brain injury at doses much lower than those affecting adult brain function.

Jill James and other prominent researchers have also shown the majority of ASD children have impaired methylation/detoxification cycles and suboptimal levels of reduced glutathione.

In the past, canaries were sent into coalmines to see if they were too toxic. Today, our children with ASD are like our canaries and they are telling us that our environment is too toxic.

Additionally, a subset of children with ASD has abnormal mitochondrial energy production and function that contributes to their physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments. The presence of mitochondrial dysfunction increases the risk for potential damage to the brain, which is dependent on oxidative metabolism.

Although the exact etiology of ASD is still unknown, understanding the basic medical problems and patterns of these children can help them heal. To recognize patterns in the ASD population, look for historical, clinical, and laboratory clues. Several examples of important clinical and historical clues are outlined below for some of the major underlying medicals problems common in this population.

Autism Biomarkers

Laboratory clues are not covered here, but a trained integrative clinician familiar with this population will have the necessary experience to evaluate the appropriate biomarkers such as:

Gastrointestinal problems
Severe colic and/or reflux
Failure to thrive
Poor sleep
Toe walking
Peeling feet
Strategies to put pressure on abdomen
Frequent early infections with antibiotics and/or steroids
Self-injurious or aggressive behaviors
Food sensitivities and intolerances
Thrush
Cradle cap
Bloated/doughy abdomen
Red anus, ears or cheeks
General look of pain
Family history of gastrointestinal problems
Craves carbohydrates
Inappropriate (drunken/maniacal) laughter
Mitochondrial dysfunction
Low tone (floppy baby, poor handwriting, etc)
Difficulty with anesthesia/sedation for procedures
Constipation
Drooling
Ptosis
Poor suck (unable to breastfeed)
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Drooling
Poor hand-eye coordination
Seizures
Immune dysregulation
Inflammation

Eczema
Psoriasis
Allergies
Asthma
Improved behavior and/or cognition when taking ibuprofen-type medications
Skin rashes
“Allergic shiners”
Warts
Molluscum
“Always sick” or “never sick”
Family history of allergies, autoimmune disorders
Sudden onset or increase in OCD, tics or anxiety
Tick exposure
Seasonal pattern to worst behaviors/regression
Impaired detoxification
Jaundice at birth
Toxin exposure history – for child, but also for mom during pregnancy/breastfeeding
Exposure history: examples include old homes and/or toys with lead, parent occupations
Dental work history for child, but also for mom during pregnancy/breastfeeding
Geography: examples include living near a foundry or within one mile of a major highway
“Brain fog”
Significant fatigue
Sweating out of proportion to activity level
Various gastrointestinal and neurologic complaints

Autism Healing

Based on various clues and patterns, trained clinicians work with families to decide what needs to be removed and replaced in order to create a healthy foundation and promote positive changes in an individual.

Dietary changes may include removal of junk, dyes, preservatives, IgG and IgE reactive foods or special restricted diets such as:

Toxin removal may involve adjustments to a child’s immediate environment, increased physical activity (to promote sweating), and addition of antioxidants and other agents to potentiate reduction of oxidative stress and ongoing detoxification.

In addition to dietary changes, treatment of abnormal germ overgrowth, inflammation, and allergies will help gastrointestinal and immune dysregulation problems.

Addressing all of the above issues, plus targeted supplementation, will also support mitochondrial function and make the body more efficient in general.

Everything presented here is only meant for information and education, not direct diagnostic or treatment recommendations.

As the medical community continues to learn about etiologies of ASD, the information in this article introduces families to additional pathways they can explore with their child’s physician.

All of our children are tremendous gifts, and hopefully looking at them in this way will optimize their health and make autism recovery possible.

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Resources

Articles

The Environmental Working Group. Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns. 14 Jul 2005.

Klinghardt, Dietrich. Autism May Be Linked to Electromagnetic Radiation Levels in Mother’s Bedroom During Pregnancy.

Swan, Shanna, et al. Reproductive Problems in Both Men and Women Are Rising at an Alarming Rate: A likely culprit is hormone-disrupting chemicals. Scientific American, 16 Mar 2021.

Books

Adams, Mike. The Truth About Aspartame, MSG and Excitoxins. Truth Publishing, Inc., 2010.

Blaylock, Russell L. Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills. Health Press, 1996.

Bock, Kenneth. Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders. New York, NY. Ballantine Books, 2008.

Brandes, Bonnie. The Symphony of Reflexes: Interventions for Human Development, Autism, ADHD, CP, and Other Neurological Disorders, 2016.

Cahalan, Susannah. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. Simon & Schuster, 2013.

Campbell-McBride, Natasha. Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia, 2010.

Giustra-Kozek, Jennifer. Healing without hurting: treating ADHD, apraxia, and autism spectrum disorders naturally and effectively without harmful medication. Howard Beach, NY: Changing Lives Press, 2014.

Handley, J.B. How to End the Autism Epidemic. Chelsea Green Publishing, 2019.

Herbert, Martha, Weintraub Karen. The Autism Revolution: Whole-Body Strategies for Making Life All It Can Be. New York: Ballantine Books; 2012.

Hong, Maria Rickert. Almost Autism: Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder, A Reference for Parents and Practitioners. 2014.

Kaufman, Raun K. Autism breakthrough: the groundbreaking method that has helped families all over the world. First edition. ed. New York: St. Martin’s Press; 2014. x, 353 p.p.

Lambert, Beth, et al. Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis. Answers Publications, 2018.

Lemer, Patricia S. Outsmarting Autism: The Ultimate Guide to Management, Healing and Prevention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Tarentum, PA, Word Association Publishers, 2014.

O’Hara, Nancy. Demystifying PANS/PANDAS: A Functional Medicine Desktop Reference on Basal Ganglia Encephalitis. ‎ DPWN Publishing, 2022.

Romaniec, Mary. Victory Over Autism: Lessons on Raising an Autism-Free Child. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2015.

Scott, Trudy. The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings. New Harbinger Publications, 2011.

Sears, Robert W. The Autism Book: What Every Parent Needs to Know about Early Detection, Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention. 1st ed. New York, NY: Little, Brown, 2010.

Seroussi, Karyn. Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother’s Story of Research and Recovery. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.

Wachter, Kenneth W., et al. Offspring: Human Fertility Behavior in Biodemographic Perspective. National Academy of Sciences, 2003.

Presentations

Pall, Martin. EMFs and Chemicals as the Main Drivers of the Autism Epidemic: Mechanisms of Action. AutismOne Conference, 2017.

Websites

Amy Yasko’s list of foods with high free glutamates

BioROSA Technologies

Clear Light Ventures

Katie Reid’s pantry list of recommended foods.

Unblind My Mind: Dr. Katie Reid’s website gives extensive explanation about the science, a TED talk by Dr. Reid and video tutorials to help parent’s discern appropriate foods in a local supermarket.