Allergies and Autism

According to a recent study, food allergies are much more common in children with autism than in typical children. In the article “Kids with food allergies are twice as likely to have autism,” published online in Science News on June 8, 2018, Aimee Cunningham references a study published online in the June issue of JAMA Network Open. [To read this article, please click here.] This research used information from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey from 1997-2016 that included nearly 200,000 children from ages 3-17, 1868 of whom had autism. [To read the research article, “Association of Food Allergy and Other Allergic Conditions With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children,” please click here.]

Of those children with autism, 216 of them, or 11.25%, also had a food allergy, whereas only 4.25% of the typical children had food allergies. In addition, children with autism were found to also be more likely to have respiratory allergies or allergic skin conditions, such as eczema, than typical kids. Specifically, 18.73% of the children with autism had respiratory allergies, such as asthma, as compared to 12.08% of typical children. In addition, 16.81% of children with autism had skin allergies, while 9.84% of typical children had skin allergies.

In breaking down the groups of children with autism into age, gender, and ethnicity, the researchers noted some interesting trends. Skin allergies were less common in girls than in boys, and older children with autism (ages 12-17) were also less likely to have skin allergies. Respiratory allergies were also less common in girls than in boys, and white children with autism were less likely than other ethnicities to suffer from respiratory allergies. In addition, younger children (ages 3-11) were less likely to deal with respiratory allergies. However, statistics for food allergies in children with autism were significant for both genders, all ages, and all ethnicities.

While the research did not examine potential causes for the link between autism and allergies, the data suggests a connection between autism and autoimmune responses. One of the study’s co-authors, epidemiologist Wei Bao of the University of Iowa, states, “The causes of ASD remain unclear.” However, he suggests three possible scenarios: food allergies may contribute to autism, autism may contribute to food allergies, or some other factor may cause both food allergies and autism concurrently, such as immunologic dysfunction, notably autoimmune disorders and frequent infections, often seen in autism.

In discussing the immune function connection with autism, the authors suggest, “It is possible that the immunologic disruptions may have processes beginning early in life, which then influence brain development and social functioning, leading to the development of ASD.” Further, they note, “In addition, there may also be shared genetic and nongenetic risk factors influencing both allergy and ASD.”

Moreover, the researchers propose a link between autism and the gut-brain-behavior axis. Referencing the higher incidence of both gastrointestinal issues and food allergies found in autism, they hypothesize a potential chain reaction. As they explain, “Food allergy may involve alterations in the gut microbiome, allergic immune activation, and impaired brain function through neuroimmune interactions, which may finally affect the enteric nervous system and central nervous system leading to neurodevelopmental abnormalities.” Essentially, food allergies upset the gut, causing the immune system to overreact, and the autoimmune response impacts the brain negatively, causing symptoms of autism.

While I appreciate the efforts these researchers have made to connect allergies and autism, I found one statement in their article surprising: “Little is known about the association between food allergy and ASD.” For many years, parents of children with autism and many doctors know that allergies to gluten, milk products, and soy are quite common in autism. Moreover, removing these allergens from the diet often improves symptoms of autism, including digestive issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, which often leads to improved behaviors.

Furthermore, more research needs to be done regarding what might be the cause of the “immunological disruptions” found in autism. Clearly, some autoimmune issues exist, as indicated by the presence of food, respiratory, and skin allergies noted in this research article. Certainly, autoimmune tendencies could be inherited, but the increasing numbers of children with autism and allergies also correlates to the increasing numbers of vaccines given to children.

For example, when my mother was a child in the 1940’s, only four vaccines were recommended: smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. When I was a small child in the 1960s, only eight vaccines (smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella) were recommended. When Alex was a child in the 1990’s, the following vaccines were recommended: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, Hib, hepatitis B, and varicella. Today, small children are recommended to receive all of those vaccines plus hepatitis A, pneumococcal, influenza, and rotavirus. [Source: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: “Vaccine History: Developments by Year”]

While protecting children from disease is essential, the safety of the vaccine mechanism needs to be studied further to prevent the potential autoimmune issues found in autism. In addition to activating the immune system, which is what vaccines are supposed to do, vaccines also contain toxic substances, such as aluminum, formaldehyde, and thimerosal, as well as substances that can provoke allergic responses, such as egg protein, antibiotics, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). [Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Ingredients of Vaccines–-Fact Sheet”]

Recognizing the connections between autism and allergies is a good first step. However, determining the source of both of these increasingly common conditions is necessary to prevent more children from suffering needlessly.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Big Brains

 

A few days ago, Scientific American published an article online regarding research linking large brains to autism. [To read this article, please click here.] Written by Karen Weintraub, the article entitled, “Autism Starts Months before Symptoms Appear, Study Shows” summarizes a study published last week in Nature. Led by psychologist Heather Hazlett at the University of North Carolina’s Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, this research started about ten years ago after earlier research indicated brains of children with autism were unusually large by age two.

For this research, three MRI brain scans were done on 150 children, 100 of whom had older siblings with autism, putting them statistically more at risk for autism. These scans were done on children at the ages of six months, one year, and two years old. The data revealed that eight out of ten children who showed faster growth on the surface areas of their brains would later be diagnosed with autism.

Consequently, before children are typically diagnosed with autism, evidence of autism appears in the brain. This research indicates that brain enlargement seems to appear with the beginning of autism symptoms that are usually first noticed around eighteen months to two years of age. Although more research is necessary, MRI brain scans could potentially be an option for autism screening in high-risk children, such as those with siblings with autism, so that intervention could be started earlier.

Psychologist James McPartland of Yale University’s Child Study Center (who was not part of this research) recommends new possible treatments for infants diagnosed with autism. Described as “hyper-parenting,” this intervention involves more interaction between the child and parent with the parent cooing, laughing, and singing. He suggests: “Supersaturate a child’s environment with social information as much as you can and hope that it takes.”

More than twenty years ago, Alex’s pediatrician noted what a big head Alex had. Even though he was very typical for his age in his height and weight, he had a head circumference in the 90^th percentile. His doctor half jokingly commented that the large head circumference just meant that he had a bigger brain. I doubt that he knew how true his assessment was, based upon the results of this new study. Although I tried to convince the pediatrician for over a year that something was wrong with Alex, he essentially dismissed me as a nervous first-time mom and assured me that Alex was fine. When he specifically asked me what I thought was the problem, I candidly admitted I thought Alex had autism. He asserted that I was wrong because Alex was “too smart to be autistic.” However, shortly after Alex turned four, he was diagnosed with autism after I finally insisted that he be evaluated.

Would an earlier diagnosis have made a difference? I doubt it. In the early 1990’s autism was less common than it is today, and finding qualified therapists was nearly impossible. Now that autism is more common, therapists are easier to find. However, the increase in autism rates means that many children must be on long waiting lists before they can begin therapy to help them develop needed skills. Moreover, we unknowingly practiced the “hyper-parenting” therapy Dr. McPartland describes, constantly engaging Alex with conversation, music, interactive baby games (such as "Peek-a-boo" and “This Little Piggy”), and reading aloud to him long before we ever suspected he had autism.

Perhaps more research needs to pursue the cause of the increased size of brains in infants with autism. What happens between birth and two years of age that might cause these brains to be enlarged? According to his official vaccination records, Alex received twelve shots by the time he was fifteen months old. [The current CDC recommended immunization schedule now calls for infants to have 25 shots by the time they are fifteen months old, not including annual flu shots.] At the top of Alex's medical form is the notation, “Newborn screening normal.” Could something in the vaccines have triggered the abnormal brain growth seen in autism? I believe so.

Certainly, his pediatrician was correct about Alex being smart; he’s the kid who can mentally calculate math problems with remarkable speed and accuracy, who taught himself to read by the age of three, and who possesses an amazing memory for details, dates, and figures. However, that large brain also means his language, fine motor, and social skills have been impaired, and he has had to learn to cope with sensory overload and anxiety.

While identifying brain characteristics commonly found in autism may prove useful to earlier diagnosis, research still needs to focus on what is causing these brain anomalies. Until we can clearly identify the causes of autism can we ever hope to find a cure for our children whose brains have been impaired. In the meantime, we celebrate every milestone Alex reaches, thankful for the progress he has made and for the healing God has provided while we wait.

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7

Voting for Alex

 

The results of last week’s election in which Donald Trump was named the next President of the United States came as a shock to many people. As I discovered last week, I wasn’t the only autism parent quietly supporting the now President-elect. Just as others chose their candidates based upon issues of major concern to them, my primary focus in life is Alex. As a pro-Alex supporter, I wanted a President willing to address the issue of autism directly and one unafraid to question the role vaccines may play in autism. That candidate was Donald Trump.

In the CNN Republican Debate on September 16, 2015, Mr. Trump was asked about autism and his position on vaccines. He explained, “Autism has become an epidemic…Because you take a baby in, and I’ve seen it, and I had my children taken care of, over a long period of time, and over a two or three year period of time, same exact amount, but you take this little beautiful baby, and you pump­­––I mean, it looks just like it’s meant for a horse, not for a child, and we’ve had so many instances, people that work for me, just the other day, two-years-old, two-and-a-half-years-old, a child, a beautiful child went to have the vaccine, and came back, and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic…I’m in favor of vaccines; do them over a longer period of time, same amount, just in little sections. I think you’re going to have––I think you’re going to see a big impact on autism.”

Not only did Mr. Trump state without hesitation that there, indeed, is an autism epidemic, but he also firmly stood his ground on suggesting that the current vaccination schedule may be linked to autism. Moreover, he expressed concern for those families whose lives have been impacted by autism.

During that same debate, fellow Republican candidate and esteemed neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson noted, “We are probably giving way too many in too short a period of time.” As an admirer of Dr. Carson, I was pleased that he offered his trusted medical opinion as well as supporting Mr. Trump’s position regarding the need to revisit the current vaccine schedule.

Of course, the mainstream media had a field day, criticizing Mr. Trump and his comments regarding the potential link between vaccines and autism. For example, The Washington Post ran an article the day after the debate on September 17, 2015, entitled, “The origins of Donald Trump’s autism/vaccine theory and how it was completely debunked eons ago.” Similarly, the online magazine Slate posted an article on the same date with the title, “Donald Trump Uses GOP to Push Anti-Vaccination Myths.” Even CNN, the host of the debate, joined in the mocking on September 19, 2015, by posting an opinion piece on their online site written by a debate coach entitled, “Trump’s autism claim on vaccines is a disgrace.” While journalists jeered him, autism parents cheered him.

In contrast, his opponent Secretary Clinton made her stance on vaccines quite clear. In a Tweet by Hillary Clinton on February 2, 2015, this position is presented: “The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and #vaccineswork. Let’s protect all our kids.” #GrandmothersKnowBest.” Comparing those who question vaccine safety to those who believe the earth is flat is nearly as demeaning as deeming Trump supporters as “deplorables.”

What was especially important to me is that Mr. Trump has not swayed in his concerns regarding the potential link between autism and vaccines over time. On December 29, 2007, long before he was a political candidate, autism mom Kim Stagliano praises him in her Age of Autism online article titled, “Brilliant Trump Revises Vaccine Schedule for His Son.”

In the article, Mr. Trump is quoted in an interview with Palm Beach Politics: “When I was growing up, autism wasn’t really a factor,” Trump said. “And now all of a sudden, it’s an epidemic. Everybody has their theory. My theory, and I study it because I have young children, my theory is the shots. We’ve been giving these massive injections at one time, and I really think it does something to the children.”

He went on to say, “When a little baby that weighs 20 pounds and 30 pounds gets pumped with 10 and 20 shots at one time, with one injection that’s a giant injection, I personally think that has something to do with it.”

Furthermore, he explains how he and his wife decided to handle vaccines with their own son, “What we’ve done with Baron, we’ve taken him on a very slow process. He gets one shot at a time then we wait a few months and give him another shot, the old-fashioned way. But today they pump the children with so much at a very young age. We do it on a very, very conservative level.”

To me, this says that Donald Trump is bold enough to question the establishment, especially when his child’s well-being is at stake. Moreover, he clearly has compassion for those families who have been affected by autism and is willing to look into potential causes.

President-elect Trump, many autism parents supported you because you unwaveringly expressed the concerns we have long held. You have the opportunity to change the course of the autism epidemic by launching investigations into how the current vaccine schedule affects children. We’re counting on you to “Make America Great Again” by helping us find ways to make our children healthy again and to prevent other children from having to struggle with autism. Please don’t let us down.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34

I Don't Know What Causes Autism

 

This week, Huffington Post featured a heartfelt blog entry written by autism mom Carrie Cariello entitled “I Know What Causes Autism.” [To read this essay, please click here.] With all the uproar regarding the recent outbreaks of measles at Disneyland and a Chicago area day care center, this essay has garnered quite a bit of attention because she addresses the controversy of vaccines and autism. To summarize, after she lists several potential causes of autism proposed over the years, she dismisses all of them “for now,” proclaiming that her son’s autism is genetic: “So, for now, I’m going to believe that Jack’s autism is because of DNA and RNA and heredity.” Furthermore, she asserts, “He’s exactly the way he’s supposed to be.” As she explains, “If I start running around declaring autism an epidemic and screeching about how we need to find out where it’s coming from and who started it and how to cure it, well, that sort of contradicts the whole message of acceptance and tolerance and open-mindedness.” Although I appreciate her candor in explaining her opinion regarding the cause of autism, I must respectfully disagree.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been an autism mom more than twice as long as she has.

Maybe it’s because we have watched Alex struggle with puberty and hormonal changes, something she probably hasn’t yet experienced with her son.

Maybe it’s because I’ve had more time to research and compare notes with other parents whose lives parallel ours.

Maybe it’s because we’ve run tests that have diagnosed mercury and aluminum poisoning and know that both of those toxic metals exist in vaccinations.

Maybe it’s because I know that you can love the child unconditionally but hate the disability passionately yet still be accepting and tolerant.

Maybe its because I don’t believe that Alex is exactly the way he’s supposed to be. I believe that autism has robbed him of things typical people his age enjoy, and I intend to do everything in my power to make sure he will not always be denied those opportunities.

On Friday, the discussion of the measles outbreaks arose among a group of my colleagues. One sympathetic friend noted how awful it was for those tiny babies to have the measles and how miserable they must be. I thought of how awful it is for children with autism who, unlike the vast majority of children with measles, don’t get better after a few days. Our oldest and wisest colleague noted that he had been immunized against both measles and mumps, but still got both diseases as an adult and questioned the effectiveness of vaccines. The youngest colleague, who is cocksure about everything, claimed that he had read “all twelve of the case studies,” and was certain that vaccines don’t cause autism. Although I was torn between wanting to slug him or to enlighten him on the autism research I’ve been doing for twenty years, I decided that either would be a waste of time and energy because he had already made up his mind, and I left the room.

Immediately following me was my colleague/close friend/confidante who knows my story well and who knew that I had left without a word after deciding that “Discretion is the better part of valor.” As the mother of two small children, she has struggled with the issues of vaccine safety herself, wondering and worrying if she is doing the right thing, and I have supported her decisions, just as she has supported mine. For the record, Alex received all of his childhood immunizations on time according to the CDC schedule because at that time little was known about possible links between autism and vaccines and because I believed that was the right thing to do at the time. Although I don’t know for certain that vaccines caused autism in Alex, I certainly believe they were a contributing factor for him. Consequently, I understand the dilemma parents face in deciding whether or not to vaccinate their children.

As my beloved friend and I discussed the issues of immunization rationally and respectfully, we came to the same conclusion that as mothers we want what’s best for our children and pray that we make the right decisions. As she wisely pointed out, we will love our children no matter what problems we face. However, we know that life is hard, and we don’t want our children’s lives to be harder than they need to be. Therein lies the crux of my drive to find out what causes autism and why I can’t be satisfied until I know the answer: I don’t want life to be harder than necessary for Alex.

If we can find the cause of autism, then maybe we can find effective treatments and potential cures. I want people to be as outraged about the autism epidemic as they clearly are about the measles epidemic so that they will work harder and faster to help those affected by autism. Moreover, I don’t believe that this is how God intended Alex to be; I believe that Alex is meant to be healthy and to live an abundant life. Accepting what is instead of seeking what can be feels wrong to me, and I have hope that Alex will overcome autism one day. Until then, I’ll keep searching for the cause of autism so that Alex and others like him can be healed and so that other families don’t have to worry that their children will face the struggles those children with autism have endured. Unlike fellow autism mom Carrie Cariello, I don’t know what causes autism, and that frustrating uncertainty mightily motivates me to keep looking for an answer.

“Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.” Psalm 25:5

How I Did Not Give My Son Autism

This week, the blog The Thinking Mom’s Revolution published an excellent entry entitled “How I Gave My Son Autism” in which a mother examines possible causes of autism that may have contributed to her son’s autism. [To read this blog entry, click here.] With specific references to autism research, she explains how exposing her son unknowingly to various things deemed safe, including Tylenol and sonograms during pregnancy, potentially made him susceptible to autism. Many of the possible culprits were based upon the recommendations of doctors, such as Pitocin and a Caesarian section during delivery; she was simply doing what medical professionals advised. Sadly, she still feels many of her actions are “unforgivable” because of the effects they have had upon her son.

Like her, I have often wondered what, if anything, I did to contribute to Alex having autism. I have always been a seemingly healthy person who lived a very healthy lifestyle. Nonetheless, my pregnancy with Alex was designated high-risk when I was diagnosed with the autoimmune blood platelet disorder idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, which made me susceptible to bleeding. To treat my condition, I had to take the corticosteroid medication Prednisone and intravenous gamma immune while several sonograms monitored his development. When I went into labor almost a month early, he was delivered by Caesarian section. Certainly, I have wondered if any of those circumstances led to Alex developing autism, but I was simply following the direction of doctors whom I trusted. Moreover, those treatments probably saved Alex’s life and mine. I can’t feel guilt for that.

Perhaps looking for better answers and certainly seeking ways to help Alex, I constantly research autism.  As I study the research, I often discover that many of the proposed causes could not be responsible for Alex having autism. In other words, my actions should have prevented giving him autism.  For instance, this month, the media reported a new possible cause of autism: low folic acid. [To read the article “Can Folic Acid Reduce the Risk of Autism?” click here.]  Because I knew that taking folic acid prior to and during pregnancy prevented neural tube disorders in babies, I faithfully took folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy.  By being proactive in that respect, I can feel confident I did the right thing for Alex.

According to another article published this month entitled “Fact Box: 5 Areas of Research into Environmental Causes of Autism” [To read this article, click here.], potential causes of autism include the following: nutrition, mother’s immune system, traffic pollution, chemicals, and medication. To address those issues, I can honestly say that I ate properly and took supplements when I was pregnant, I trusted my doctors who treated my immune system issues, I live in a town with minimal traffic pollution, I avoid chemicals as best I can, and I’ve never taken the anti-depressants specifically cited as problematic. Once again, I can’t take blame based upon these causes.

A third research article that appeared this month also seems to suggest possible causes of autism that do not account for Alex having autism.  The article “Autism Causes and Risks, Latest Findings” [To read this article, click here.] proposes various risk factors for autism, including taking anti-depressant and anti-seizure medications during pregnancy, which I have never taken. The research also suggests older mothers and close births as potentially problematic. I was 29 when I gave birth to Alex, putting me under the older than 35 definition of “older mothers.” Also, since Alex is my only child, the close births theory of having two pregnancies spaced a year apart doesn’t fit our situation, either. Another risk factor, genetics and gene mutations, is a possibility, but not one over which I had any control. Two other risk factors could have affected Alex—fever and prenatal inflammation—as I had flu and ran a fever when I was pregnant. However, I did treat the fever with over the counter medication, which, according to the research, should have helped. Moreover, I would think many pregnant women would run a fever at some point; I question how much this might contribute to autism.

Despite the various research about potential causes of autism, nothing has arisen to name definitively the true cause and what might be done to prevent or cure the epidemic. While I empathize with the mom who wrote “What I Did to Cause My Son’s Autism,” I choose to focus on all the things I did not do to cause my son’s autism. Everything I did during my pregnancy and since Alex’s birth has been focused upon keeping him and me healthy, and everything we have done since his diagnosis of autism was to make him better so that he can reach his full potential. Like all parents, we have probably made unintentional mistakes along the way, but anything we did for Alex was out of unconditional love for him. When any feelings of guilt arise, I must remember that we have always tried to do what we thought was best.  Furthermore, we keep praying for Alex’s complete healing so that he can enjoy life to the fullest and “so the power of God could be seen in him.”

“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. ‘Rabbi,’ his disciples asked him, ‘why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?’

‘It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,’ Jesus answered. ‘This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.’” John 9:1-3