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Post by aterry on Aug 21, 2014 13:30:11 GMT -5
I just read this article about Autism on the Science Daily web site and found it quite interesting. I used to say to my son, who is a very fast thinker but socially awkward: "you have more synapses than the rest of us". Maybe he does. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140821124730.htm |
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Post by eoffg on Aug 22, 2014 6:19:25 GMT -5
That is a most interesting article.
Where it could provide an explanation of how 'pro-biotics' have an effect on Autism?
While this mTOR protein has been researched for about 40 years, importantly this research has identified it as overactive in Autism.
This mTOR protein is a complex of different amino acids, and is sensitive to nutrient deficiency.
So that this could provide a chemical explanation of how pro-biotics can effect Autism?
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Post by SharonF on Aug 25, 2014 12:21:10 GMT -5
Very interesting research. Two things caught my eye.
1) 50 shades of gray--or maybe 5000 shades of Autism. Here's what I mean: Most experts view Autism as a spectrum disorder. In other words, it is NOT an all-or-nothing kind of disorder. I wonder if people with extreme Autism have the most synapses. That might mean those with extreme Autism have brains that are least likely to prune the extra synapses. If that's true, I wonder if those with the mildest or fewest Spectrum traits might have brains which were able to prune most of the extra synapses, just not all of them.
And if a person's brain does a fairly good job of pruning synapses, but not a GREAT job, maybe that results in the "bits-and-pieces" we often see described on this board. Kids who might have a few traits from the Spectrum, but definitely not Asperger's, High-functioning Autism or classic Autism. Just a few "bits and pieces"--possibly because they have just a few "extra synapses."
And that leads me to wonder if certain, specific "extra" synapses are more likely to cause certain behaviors, such as rocking/flapping. Maybe another specific set of "extra" synapses might cause heightened sensory sensitivity. Or trouble making eye contact. I even wonder if there might be a link between a specific set of "extra" synapses and the various flavors of ADHD.
2) Epilepsy. This study also found that people with "extra" or un-pruned synapses are far more likely to have epilepsy. I suddenly started having epileptic seizures at the age of 9 and the cause was never determined. I still must take epilepsy medicine every day. I also have a few Spectrum traits. My nephew developed unexplained (idiopathic) epilepsy at the age of 10. Two years later, he was diagnosed with Asperger's. I have a friend (my age) who has epilepsy and has some Spectrum traits. Her daughter, now 20, has Spectrum traits and...epilepsy.
I know bros also fits this pattern. Obviously more than a coincidence.
I may be reading too much into it. But I find this study fascinating because it may explain why Autism is a spectrum disorder. Why no two people with Asperger's or NLD are exactly alike. It could be that their extra synapses are not exactly alike. And this study might even explain why I have epilepsy--and that my epilepsy is not just a medical condition, but that my epilepsy might be related to my unique pattern of cognitive strengths, my social challenges and my innate learning style. And that the same might be said for my nephew's epilepsy--and his Asperger's. And it even may explain why my dd has a few mild Spectrum traits but no epilepsy. Her brain might have pruned those epilepsy-causing synapses correctly while mine did not.
In any case, I find the many articles about this study interesting!
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Post by eoffg on Aug 26, 2014 6:36:26 GMT -5
A crucial part of the article was:
"Clues to what caused the pruning defect were also found in the patients' brains; the autistic children's brain cells were filled with old and damaged parts and were very deficient in a degradation pathway known as "autophagy." Cells use autophagy (a term from the Greek for self-eating) to degrade their own components."
Where the crucial thing identified, was that the "brain cells were filled with old and damaged parts..."
What is important about this, is that the pruning process relies on the debris being constantly removed from brain cells.
Otherwise, the pruning process will stop.
But some other recent research, has shown that the removal of the debris relies on the production of specific chemicals produced in the gut by specific intestinal flora.
Where this provides more scientific evidence, for an association between Autism and 'pro-biotics'.
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Post by SharonF on Aug 26, 2014 6:57:29 GMT -5
eoffg--
I have also read some of that research about bacteria in the small intestine--or the lack of it. And how the lack of bacterial diversity in the gut can cause a wide range of issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Celiac intolerance, even Autistic traits.
Maybe it's a clear link. But I think it's more of a correlation, not a distinct causation.
There's also much speculation--but no clarity--on why some people have diverse gut bacteria and some don't. Widespread antibiotic use is usually given the blame. But lots of kids today are given almost non-stop antibiotics for ear infections and never develop IBS or Asperger's. On the other hand, I grew up during a time when antibiotic prescriptions were pretty rare. When I was a young child, farmers rarely put antibiotics in the feed for cattle and hogs as a preventive. So as a child, I probably didn't eat much meat that was laced with antibiotics. And I was breastfed. So was my nephew. I have read that breastfed babies are more likely to have diverse gut bacteria than formula-fed babies.
Probiotics are likely part of the equation. How large a part? Hard to say. Definitely we should not rule out the role of intestinal bacteria in overall health of body and mind. Experts should keep investigating! But I'm also not convinced that increasing that bacterial diversity in the GI tract would *automatically* result in fewer cases of Autism, IBS, Krohn's Disease or lactose intolerance. My "gut" tells me it's more complicated than that.
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Post by hsmom on Aug 27, 2014 8:52:45 GMT -5
I found the same article in The New York Times and have provided the link below: tinyurl.com/kcg3ojc |
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Post by eoffg on Aug 27, 2014 9:26:38 GMT -5
Sharon--,
The 'gut' is far more complicated!
Where 'fibre' also plays a critical role?
What needs to be considered? Is how we actually absorb nutrients from what we eat?
Where they are absorbed, as they are exposed to the surface of the intestinal tube.
Where the surface of the intestinal tube, with all of its convolutions?
Is actually about the size of 2 football fields.
As it is a corrugated surface.
But a critical role that 'fibre' plays, is that it works like a brush? Clearing the surface, for fresh exposure and absorption of nutrients.
But a problem with commonly eaten 'processed foods'?
Is that lacking in 'fibre'?
The surface of the intestine becomes clogged, and has a reduced area for nutrient absorption.
Where we could also mention how well we chew our food before swallowing?
This is not only mashes our food?
But as we chew, glands at the back of the mouth, squirt enzymes into the food to initiate the chemical reactions and processing.
It might also be noted that the 'gut' is defined as the second brain?
Where it is lined with grey matter brain cells. Equal to about a third of the size of the brain in our head.
With the brain being a chemical process fed by the gut?
While we think of ourselves as a brain that has a gut.
Maybe it might turn out, that we are a gut that has a brain?
But this could be my stomach talking?
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Post by healthy11 on Sept 23, 2014 20:51:13 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Feb 6, 2015 12:08:47 GMT -5
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Post by eoffg on Feb 7, 2015 6:39:15 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Mar 16, 2015 22:19:14 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Mar 25, 2015 14:51:57 GMT -5
Scientists may now have identified a gene that causes severe autism in women: www.theverge.com/2015/3/25/8288671/autism-causes-genetic-research-study-womenThe article begins, "men are four times as likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and so scientists haven’t spent as much time studying the disorder's genetic imprint in women. A newly identified gene could change that, according to a study published in Nature today. The gene has been found to play a role in severe autism in women — as well as some men..." |
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Post by healthy11 on Mar 31, 2015 7:56:19 GMT -5
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Post by eoffg on Apr 1, 2015 9:57:18 GMT -5
While it is titled: "Kids with Autism Are More Likely to Have Gastrointestinal Problems."
It might turn out to be the opposite?
Kids with Gastrointestinal Problems Are More Likely to Have Autism?
Where the underlying issue, is the auto-immune response to Gastrointestinal Problems?
Causing the production of Cytokines, that cross the blood-brain barrier and trigger a mis-directed repair process in the brain?
Where brain cells are wrongly identified as damaged, and then taken apart.
But a further issue, is that when it takes the brain cells (microglia) apart?
That it leaves debris behind.
Normally this debris is either re-used or removed.
But this can be disrupted, leaving 'rubbish' in the brain cells.
Which triggers a new response to the undisposed rubbish?
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Post by healthy11 on Jun 2, 2015 18:40:41 GMT -5
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Post by kewpie on Jun 3, 2015 10:30:08 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Jun 11, 2015 18:34:02 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Jul 16, 2015 7:16:50 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Jul 22, 2015 16:25:34 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Aug 6, 2015 17:02:28 GMT -5
8/6/15: www.yahoo.com/health/new-breakthrough-in-what-causes-autism-126021062452.html A portion of the article says, "...This is the first time scientists have observed how a common type of mutation, known as a missense mutation, could contribute to autism. There’s a revolution that’s taking place in the area of autism genetics right now,” says study author Mark Zylka, PhD, associate professor at UNC School of Medicine. Thanks to recent advances in technology, it’s now possible to sequence human genomes relatively inexpensively. “From these sequencing studies, thousands of mutations have been turning up in hundreds of genes, and this mutation is one of those mutations,” Zylka tells Yahoo Health. Specifically, the new finding relates to an enzyme known as UBE3A. Normally, the enzyme is tightly regulated. But Zylka’s team discovered that an autism-linked gene mutation disrupts the on/off switch that controls the enzyme. As a result, the enzyme is constantly on...." |
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Post by healthy11 on Aug 18, 2015 22:27:30 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Oct 27, 2015 18:45:34 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Dec 9, 2015 10:44:02 GMT -5
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Post by healthy11 on Dec 15, 2015 22:20:52 GMT -5
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Post by eoffg on Dec 16, 2015 8:11:54 GMT -5
This study only shows an 'increased risk', not an actual cause.
But what concerns me about this?
Is a mother of an autistic child, who took anti-depressants while pregnant?
Reading about this study?
DOES THIS MEAN THAT I CAUSED MY CHILD TO BE AUTISTIC !/?
AM I TO BLAME ?
No, it just increased the risk.
Though what concerns me about this, is that probably most mothers wonder whether 'something that they did, caused their child's LD ?'
So that after reading about this study?
They could live the rest of their lives. Believing that they caused their child to be Autistic.
This is not a trivial thing !
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Post by healthy11 on Dec 16, 2015 10:01:58 GMT -5
Eoffg, you bring up a very important point. I hope, at least, that people who read this discussion thread realize that there are MANY, MANY different theories about what causes autism, but there is NOT a clear answer. Until such time that there is (if ever) all mothers should follow their doctor's advice about taking medications, including over-the-counter drugs, during pregnancy.
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Post by healthy11 on Jan 26, 2016 9:41:55 GMT -5
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Post by kewpie on Jan 26, 2016 11:16:29 GMT -5
Interesting theory by Dr Karp. Except we rarely , if ever fed canned food or formula to our kids. I used the Playtex bags for feeding the kids so their formula never came from plastic bottles. Next theory please..
It reminds me of one doctor who claimed that breast cancer would be cured if every woman became a vegetation. Then Linda McCartney died fo breast cancer. Goodbye to that theory.
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Post by healthy11 on Jan 26, 2016 17:35:10 GMT -5
I interpreted the article about Dr. Karp to say chemicals in general, like BPA in plastics, may be responsible for hormonal changes ~ it's NOT saying ONLY BPAs are responsible...
"You have phthalates, which are plastic parts, as well which are in every new car...things like that. All of those have a hormonal effect and there are dozens of others; all different classes. The weird thing is that hormones are signalers, they tell cells 'Do this, don't do that' and what can happen is these hormonally active chemicals make it into the brains of young babies or even before birth and shift the brain's development.
The reason I think that this could be related to autism is because it's something that isn't split evenly between boys and girls. Boys get more autism, boys get 4 times more autism, they're diagnosed 9 times more with Asperger's Syndrome. So it could be that if we just pushed it a little bit further, that may be the reason that we're seeing this increase. I don't know the answer, but I do know that we have to find the answer. Scientists are looking for that now, but we need to do more research on it."
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Post by healthy11 on Jan 28, 2016 16:27:47 GMT -5
Here's research that nutrition, specifically involving carnitine, seems to be related to autism risks: medicalxpress.com/news/2016-01-hints-nutritional-strategy-autism.html"Carnitine, which the body can manufacture itself or extract from dietary sources, is required for transport of fatty acids into mitochondria—the compartment within the cell that converts these fats into energy. Previous studies have shown that inherited mutations in a gene (called TMLHE) that is required for carnitine biosynthesis are strongly associated with risk for development of autism-spectrum disorders, but the basis for that association has been unclear—until now. The latest findings show that genetic defects in the body's ability to manufacture carnitine might be associated with an increased risk of autism because carnitine deficiency interferes with the normal processes by which neural stem cells promote and organize embryonic and fetal brain development." |
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