conuly

I'm not taking this one apart. I simply don't have the energy.

Acceptance a poor alternative to cure
Before anyone jumps down my throat and tells me – “there is no treatment for autism!” – let me state quite clearly that I never wrote that there was. I wrote that some of the symptoms of this condition may be lessened by the judicious use of some cheap supplements and proper nutrition. I think it’s unfair to say that all non-conservative treatments are quackery in disguise when they clearly are not. I have no doubt that there are bogus clinics that relieve vulnerable and susceptible parents of a great deal of money, but portraying all these clinics in the same light is also a little unfair. Something helps autistic children, and it’s this “something” that I am interested in.

I went back to the books and journals after a prompt from one of Ireland’s leading paediatricians. I found interesting stuff, not the type of stuff that the more radical autism activists would endorse.

“There is no autism epidemic. This epidemic is a complete myth,” says Brent Taylor, Professor of Community Child Health at University College London. Epidemiologist Jim Gurney of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis says that, as the diagnosis has to be made on observing behaviour, “one person’s autism is not another person’s autism.” The definition of autism has been so broadened over the past few decades – autism disorder, Asperger’s syndrome and PDD–NOS (short for pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified) – that “there is now no litmus test for who is autistic and who is not”, according to Tony Charman of the Institute of Child Health at University College London.

The “epidemic theory” started in California when the Department of Developmental Services came out with figures that, on the surface, were frightening. In 16 years (from 1986 to 2002), autism cases appeared to rise from 2,778 to 20,377, more than a sixfold increase. Pretty damning proof, but there is also evidence that, as the autism figures have risen, diagnoses of mental retardation have fallen. The most recent reports state quite unequivocally that “the information should not be used to draw scientifically valid conclusions”. Another report shows that a 1970 survey in England came out with five autistic children in a population of 13,135, but modern diagnostic criteria discovered 56 in the same data. It could be that autism was underestimated in the past, and that the modern figures represent the true incidence of autism spectrum disorders, about 62 per 10,000 (American Journal of Psychiatry, vol 162, page 1,133). There has been no appreciable change over the past few years, and the study says that “the epidemic concerns are unfounded”.

All fine and well for the bright lights in academia, but of little use to those who have a child diagnosed with autism. Is there anything that can be done for them? Well, yes there is. I write with trepidation, wondering who is going to chuck a “paediatric” brick through the front window. If genetics cannot explain all the cases – the consensus is that between 60 and 90 per cent of cases are genetic in origin; a region on chromosome 17 is the suspect of the moment – there is room for an environmental cause, and environmental causes can be ameliorated to some degree. There is evidence that a change in nutrition improves the symptoms associated with autism. A proper diet – no junk food, no refined sugar, and loads of essential fatty acids (EFAs) – is of prime importance. Last November, autism was linked to a very mild inflammation of the brain; a few weeks ago EFAs were deemed to have the same anti-inflammatory effect as ibuprofen. It doesn’t take a genius to put the two together. Then there is alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium/selenium/vitamin E, the B-vitamins, and glutathione (people with autism have lower glutathione levels). Two chelation agents, transdermal DMPS and the weaker, but safer, evil-smelling oral DMSA improve the symptoms. It has to be stressed that these two agents have not been approved by the FDA. Then there is injected methyl B12 which, according to some parents, has a very beneficial effect on autism symptoms. The shots of the methyl B12 have to be given on a regular basis. I know some people will haughtily say that is typical of those who investigate alternative treatments – getting the patients to come back on a regular basis in order to fleece them. I suppose the same thing can be said about insulin, L-thyroxine, the inhalers, all the things that need regular repeat prescriptions.

There are behavioural therapies that, over a long time, teach autistic children how to communicate and learn complex tasks.

We can argue till the bovines return to the abode about the cause of autism. It isn’t going to help those with the problem and some of these do not want to be helped. Organisations like Apsies for Freedom feel that “autism is part of the individual, not a disease that someone has”. Autistic Pride Day last June 18 encouraged autistic people to embrace their “neurodiversity” and wider society to accept them as they are. Its theme was “Acceptance not cure”. I don’t think that parents with a severely autistic child would embrace these ideals.

Simple dietary measures plus safe and cheap supplements could be used by any doctor, conservative or radical, traditional or non-traditional, who has an interest in this problem. They won’t make the problem worse; they just might make things better.

Of course, it *is* just a cheap-ass editorial, doesn't even have a name attached. Can't be bothered to care about it, really.