Although autism is primarily considered a developmental
condition that hinders communication and social skills and causes repetitive
behaviors, recent research confirms what many parents have known all along:
autism also involves psychiatric and medical issues. In the article,
“Psychiatric and Medical Conditions in Transition-Aged Individuals with ASD,”
published April 2018 in the journal Pediatrics, researchers note that
adolescents and young adults with autism deal with more psychiatric and medical
conditions than typical young people. [To read this article, please click
here.]
For this study, researchers used 2013-2015 data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California, which provides care to people in the San Francisco and Sacramento regions. Information regarding health care for teenagers and young adults ages 14-25 was studied with a typical control group of 20,516 individuals and 4,123 with autism spectrum disorders.
Compared to the typical individuals, psychiatric conditions were significantly more common in those with autism. In fact, 34% of those with autism also had at least one psychiatric condition. To illustrate, 15% had ADHD, 14% had anxiety, 10% had depression, and 6% had bipolar disorder.
In addition to psychiatric conditions prevalent in young people with autism, the researchers found that teenagers and young adults who have autism also dealt with various medical conditions. Specifically, 42% had infections, 25% dealt with obesity, 18% had neurological issues, 16% had allergy and/or immunology concerns, 15% had musculoskeletal conditions, and 11% had gastrointestinal problems. As the article notes, “Compared with the TC [typical control] group, individuals with ASD were at significantly increased risk for most medical conditions.”
One theory for the high rate of obesity in the autism group was the use of antipsychotic medications; one common side effect of these drugs is obesity. While 19% of the patients with autism took antipsychotic medications, even those who did not take these drugs had a higher incidence of obesity than those in the typical group. Perhaps poor dietary habits due to sensory issues, a lack of exercise, and/or metabolic problems contributed to this rate of obesity. Interestingly, those with autism were much less likely to smoke or abuse drugs than those in the typical group. The researchers suggested that uses of tobacco and drugs tend to be social activities, which people with autism may avoid.
The researchers speculated various reasons why teenagers and young adults with autism also have psychiatric and medical conditions. First, isolation from others due to impaired social skills may cause anxiety and/or depression. Also, the medications used to treat psychiatric conditions could cause or intensify medical conditions, such as obesity and gastrointestinal problems. In addition, sensory issues and difficulty interacting with others may hinder access to medical care. Moreover, medical providers may not know how to meet the needs of those with autism, causing treatment to be less successful.
While the researchers did not definitively identify why teenagers and young adults have significantly more psychiatric and medical issues, they noted that more research needs to be done in this area. They conclude, “…there is a pressing need for all clinicians to approach ASD as a chronic health condition requiring regular follow-up and routine screening and treatment of medical and psychiatric issues.”
While mainstream medicine may not know why so many children, adolescents, and young adults with autism also have psychiatric and medical conditions, practitioners of functional medicine who treat patients with autism have some good ideas as to why they have additional issues. On May 31, 2018, in a weekly live chat on the Spectum Awakening Facebook page, Dr. Jared Skowron discussed “the seven medical arenas of autism” and offered helpful suggestions for testing and treating these issues.
The first medical issue often seen in autism is autoimmunity, such as food sensitivities or PANDAS/PANS syndrome caused by strep infections. These conditions may benefit from anti-inflammatory supplements, such as fish oil. Another medical concern found in autism involves brain chemistry issues, including problems with regulating serotonin, dopamine, and/or adrenaline. Supplements such as amino acids and B vitamins may prove helpful to regulate brain chemistry.
A third medical issue common in autism involves detoxification issues, which can lead to heavy metal toxicity. Recent studies indicate that many teenagers with autism have abnormal levels of aluminum in their brains. Chelation with silica or sulfur compounds may be needed to remove these toxins from the body. Another cause of medical conditions in autism is genetic mutations; the availability of home test kits, such as 23 and Me, allows simple ways to diagnose potential genetic issues that may need to be addressed.
Perhaps one of the most common medical problems in autism is the issue of gastrointestinal dysfunction. These problems of the digestive tract can often be treated by diets that eliminate allergens and/or medications and supplements that treat yeast overgrowth, harmful bacteria, and parasites. In addition to problems with the digestive system, some people with autism have issues with the endocrine system. Specifically, adrenal and thyroid supplements may be needed to adjust hormone imbalances that impact stress levels and the immune system. Finally, mitochondrial dysfunction may accompany autism, causing severe fatigue. Various supplements, such as CoQ10, can improve cellular function issues that occur with mitochondrial disease.
Although autism primarily affects communication, social interaction, and behavior, the study of Northern California teenagers and young adults demonstrates that many young people with autism must also contend with psychiatric and medical issues. Diagnosing and treating these additional conditions may be difficult for medical personnel, due to the obstacles autism typically presents, but improving the mental and physical health of these young people is crucial to their well-being. Certainly, people with autism deserve to be as happy and healthy as possible, and those practitioners willing to seek causes and cures for accompanying ailments deserve praise for their dedication to healing.
For this study, researchers used 2013-2015 data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California, which provides care to people in the San Francisco and Sacramento regions. Information regarding health care for teenagers and young adults ages 14-25 was studied with a typical control group of 20,516 individuals and 4,123 with autism spectrum disorders.
Compared to the typical individuals, psychiatric conditions were significantly more common in those with autism. In fact, 34% of those with autism also had at least one psychiatric condition. To illustrate, 15% had ADHD, 14% had anxiety, 10% had depression, and 6% had bipolar disorder.
In addition to psychiatric conditions prevalent in young people with autism, the researchers found that teenagers and young adults who have autism also dealt with various medical conditions. Specifically, 42% had infections, 25% dealt with obesity, 18% had neurological issues, 16% had allergy and/or immunology concerns, 15% had musculoskeletal conditions, and 11% had gastrointestinal problems. As the article notes, “Compared with the TC [typical control] group, individuals with ASD were at significantly increased risk for most medical conditions.”
One theory for the high rate of obesity in the autism group was the use of antipsychotic medications; one common side effect of these drugs is obesity. While 19% of the patients with autism took antipsychotic medications, even those who did not take these drugs had a higher incidence of obesity than those in the typical group. Perhaps poor dietary habits due to sensory issues, a lack of exercise, and/or metabolic problems contributed to this rate of obesity. Interestingly, those with autism were much less likely to smoke or abuse drugs than those in the typical group. The researchers suggested that uses of tobacco and drugs tend to be social activities, which people with autism may avoid.
The researchers speculated various reasons why teenagers and young adults with autism also have psychiatric and medical conditions. First, isolation from others due to impaired social skills may cause anxiety and/or depression. Also, the medications used to treat psychiatric conditions could cause or intensify medical conditions, such as obesity and gastrointestinal problems. In addition, sensory issues and difficulty interacting with others may hinder access to medical care. Moreover, medical providers may not know how to meet the needs of those with autism, causing treatment to be less successful.
While the researchers did not definitively identify why teenagers and young adults have significantly more psychiatric and medical issues, they noted that more research needs to be done in this area. They conclude, “…there is a pressing need for all clinicians to approach ASD as a chronic health condition requiring regular follow-up and routine screening and treatment of medical and psychiatric issues.”
While mainstream medicine may not know why so many children, adolescents, and young adults with autism also have psychiatric and medical conditions, practitioners of functional medicine who treat patients with autism have some good ideas as to why they have additional issues. On May 31, 2018, in a weekly live chat on the Spectum Awakening Facebook page, Dr. Jared Skowron discussed “the seven medical arenas of autism” and offered helpful suggestions for testing and treating these issues.
The first medical issue often seen in autism is autoimmunity, such as food sensitivities or PANDAS/PANS syndrome caused by strep infections. These conditions may benefit from anti-inflammatory supplements, such as fish oil. Another medical concern found in autism involves brain chemistry issues, including problems with regulating serotonin, dopamine, and/or adrenaline. Supplements such as amino acids and B vitamins may prove helpful to regulate brain chemistry.
A third medical issue common in autism involves detoxification issues, which can lead to heavy metal toxicity. Recent studies indicate that many teenagers with autism have abnormal levels of aluminum in their brains. Chelation with silica or sulfur compounds may be needed to remove these toxins from the body. Another cause of medical conditions in autism is genetic mutations; the availability of home test kits, such as 23 and Me, allows simple ways to diagnose potential genetic issues that may need to be addressed.
Perhaps one of the most common medical problems in autism is the issue of gastrointestinal dysfunction. These problems of the digestive tract can often be treated by diets that eliminate allergens and/or medications and supplements that treat yeast overgrowth, harmful bacteria, and parasites. In addition to problems with the digestive system, some people with autism have issues with the endocrine system. Specifically, adrenal and thyroid supplements may be needed to adjust hormone imbalances that impact stress levels and the immune system. Finally, mitochondrial dysfunction may accompany autism, causing severe fatigue. Various supplements, such as CoQ10, can improve cellular function issues that occur with mitochondrial disease.
Although autism primarily affects communication, social interaction, and behavior, the study of Northern California teenagers and young adults demonstrates that many young people with autism must also contend with psychiatric and medical issues. Diagnosing and treating these additional conditions may be difficult for medical personnel, due to the obstacles autism typically presents, but improving the mental and physical health of these young people is crucial to their well-being. Certainly, people with autism deserve to be as happy and healthy as possible, and those practitioners willing to seek causes and cures for accompanying ailments deserve praise for their dedication to healing.
“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing
will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory
of the Lord will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:8
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