ASD & aluminium link? Any other new hypotheses into ASD causation?

Hi guys,

My DS is on the spectrum, so I have an interest in it. My nephew also has (DH Sisters son), and I suspect my FIL did also. I don't subscribe to the MMR vaccination hypothesis, and recent data has shown the only study to be fundamentally flawed. I have also seen hypothesis in heavy metals (mainly mecury is the one I see suggested) being involved. There seems to be way to much of a hereditary pattern for there not the be some underlying genetic predisposition (my degree is in genetics), but I believe it is probably a predisposition rather than a gene that causes it. I have read of higher incidences of allergies/asthma/skin conditions in children on the spectrum, and I also read that within family's who are on the spectrum they found a higher mecury levels in the preceding generations, which may have been the causation of gene mutuation? I have also read of a study proposing that the immune system of these children when under pressure could be the incident that causes the genetic predisposition to kick in. I guess this could be from the allergies mentioned or something else the immune system is fighting, such as a vacination, but I am a strong believer in vaccinations, and feel it could just as well be any other bug or virus they are fighting that could bring it on)

Anyway, I read an interesting bit yesterday by somebody, who said she felt aluminium as a heavy metal was more responsible that mercury. As she said, when we used to see mercury poisoning (mad hatters etc), they usual result was at attacking the brain, and reduce mental capacity, which isn't what we really see in kids on the spectrum (a lot of them have extremely high IQs), but aluminium is known to attack/decrease the immune system.

Is aluminium used as a preservative in vaccinations? Does it get into our food sources/ingested by pregnant women?

I would have the also hypothesis that the gene mutation would be X linked to explain the disproportionation amount of males:female on the spectrum.

Interesting thoughts, I'm not sure that it is reponsible. but it is only through examining many different theory's and putting it under scientific testing you get more of an idea of causation, but it is very hard when it is a genetic & environmental cause.

Wondering if anyone had some thoughts on this, or other theory's on ASD??

I've read these studies - I have Aspergers, so it is of interest.

As far as I am aware, the heavy metal theory is bourne out of ASD children having substantially higher than normal levels of heavy metal in their hair. It could be a processing heavy metals thing. But is it a cause or an effect? Don't know. I am tempted to go for effect, as cutting heavy metals out of my diet doesn't change things - in fact I'm better (ie less shameful to my mother) with more metals.

Also ASD affects males and females differently: males are easier to diagnose. Although there are more spectrum males, females are still better at hiding it. I'm fairly sure there is more of a genetic link, looking at my family and DH's family. X-linked? Maybe, as it is in my father's family (through his mother) and DH's mother is pretty Aspie too, as is DH.

Would that mean that reducing heavy metal exposure would improve mental function? I've had 2 hair anaylses in the last year. The first showed high exposure to copper and a few other metals. I changed my water source (dont drink tap water, we have our water delivered), and moved house. The second test showed low heavy metal exposure.

I still have ADD. I cannot objectively tell you if it has improved or not. The stressors of my last year would probably affect anyone's mental function.

There is ASD in both sides of my family. I am sure my dad is undiagnosed Aspergers. I have an autistic second cousin on my maternal side. So there may be a genetic link.

Maybe there's something in all the plastics we've been exposed to in the past few generations that has increased the incidences of ASD.

Other theories I've read include ASD being correlated to the increased use of prenatal ultrasound and increased cord clamping. Both have increased in the last 30 years, along with ASD rates.

I've recently started researching the importance of gut health on the brain. Perhaps the change in diets have affected things as well. Maybe a number of things together have blended into a perfect storm.

btw - my ADD was diagnosed at the age of 36, which apparently is pretty normal for females of my generation.

Actually, Tashy, I think that cases haven't increased. I think ASD children were just taught "how to behave" more. These days it is a bit more "anything goes" and therefore it's easier to spot. Both my paternal grandmother and MiL have undiagnosed Aspergers (my sister is a medical ASD specialist so can spot them easily within the family!) and some of the stories about their parents and grandparents are a bit Aspie too. Nowadays behaviour is less taught and assumed to be inate.

I have done so much work teaching DS about social skills, but I am not sure if he's "normal" or it is my teaching of the rules I figured out. I think he appears to be less spectrum than DH and me, but time will tell. DH appears more so than me, but in reality is a bit less so - I had a mother who shamed me into normality, he had a mother who had no clue about normality (and rocks).

There are SO many things that we have increased/discovered in the past 30 years (like ultrasounds) and a much higher diagnosis rate of ASD (well, first the acceptances of it, and even now in next years DSM-V there will be a huge change - no PDD-NOS/Aspergers/Autism - it is all 1 spectrum), so it is very hard to distinguish between causation and correlation. And that ASD in general if they are high functioning (and female as Ryn pointed out) are hard to diagnose.. gosh, it is so hard you wonder if we will ever understand it.

Anyway, some interesting blogs I have found are:
Adventures in Autism: Its Not Just The Mercury: Aluminum Hydroxide In Vaccines
Aluminum Toxicity: A misdiagnosed epidemic (Part 1) By Ingri Cassel

Oh, another thing I heard on an interview with the guy from Catalyst today was they are currently developing inhaled vaccinations (taking the liquid vaccine and making it be able to be delivered by airborne particles like a asthma puffer rather than an injection). Apparently it is one of the changed we are going to see soon. Wondering if that will change the vaccination make-up.

Premiturity is a risk factor for being on the spectrum.
The lower the gestational age the higher the chance are, babies born more than 3 mths premature have double the chance of autism than full term babies.
As medical technology advances we are saving babies earlier and earlier (for which I am grateful) but I think that it also contributes to the increasing numbers of children on the spectrum.

Yael- You've got to read Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride. Judging from what you have written I think it would resonate with you. It blew me away and I am convinced my son's autism is caused by his poor gut flora.

In a nut shell the idea is:
Baby gets poor gut flora from mum.

As a result of this poor gut flora they are unable to digest foods properly and their whole digestive system is failing. They do not absorb enough nutrients so they are unable to function correctly (such as not enough omega for the brain and many, many other things).

Poor digestive function means their body doesn't detox as it should. Exposure to chemicals in the environment that a healthy gut would excrete are stored in their body instead. Autistic children generally test high for any chemical or metal you want to test.

Their poor gut health also means that food molecules are passed through the intestinal wall before being properly broken down. They have a leaky gut. So gluten for example is absorbed undigested and becomes a toxin in the blood stream, overloading the brain with toxicity.

The signs of this poor gut health are often displayed in children with autism through their poo (most are either constipated or have sloppy poos), more allergies, eczema etc

NCM says autism is increasing as gut flora is in decline over generations due to poor eating habits of modern society combined with overuse of antibiotics, mother taking the pill for years before having children and more.

She says vaccines are fine for healthy people who detox the toxins in them, but for children with poor gut flora they should be avoided. I was pro-vax too but we are now delaying all vaccines in this family for the next two years, until we give our boys better gut health.

Can't type much more now sorry! The book is WELL worth the read (get the 2010 edition). Good summary of it here (but I think you need to read the book to be convinced of the science behind it).

She actually cites the Wakefield study which really bothered me at first because I also feel it is a load of bollocks. But I see now that she is only referring to the fact that he was the first researcher to claim and show that there is a link between autism and poor gut health, that the two go hand in hand.

this is all very interesting, my son is on the spectrum. I am off to do some research as well I think.