Autism Chemical Connection

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. Although 50 years ago only 4 or 5 out of 10,000 were diagnosed with autism; today its 1 in 88!

Toxins can make the symptoms of ASD worse!

ASD is a general term used to describe a very complex combination of issues. Each autistic individual can have a different list of challenges. However, typically, ASD symptoms can be characterized by difficulties with social interaction, over-sensitivity to environment, verbal and non-verbal communication and repetitive behaviors. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal challenges.

The cause of autism is challenging since there are so many different types of symptoms which can be part of the syndrome. However, research suggests that there is a link between toxic chemicals and autism. According to The National Academy of Sciences, 3 percent of all neurobehavioral disorders in children, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), are caused by toxic exposures in the environment and that another 25 percent are caused by interactions between environmental factors and genetics.

The Children's Environmental Health Center (CEHC) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has created a list of the top 10 chemicals found in consumer products that are suspected to contribute to autism and learning disabilities. They are:

• Lead
• Methylmercury
• PCBs
• Organophosphate pesticides
• Organochlorine pesticides
• Endocrine disruptors
• Automotive exhaust
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• Brominated flame retardants
• Perfluorinated compounds

Children are much more vulnerable to these toxins then adults. In March of 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that children run a much higher risk of developing cancer when exposed to mutagenic contaminants, or “those agents that cause a permanent genetic change in a cell other than that which occurs during normal growth”( U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2003) compared to adults. For a child under 2, they reported the risk at 10 times higher than adults and for children 2-15 it was increased 2-5 times. The key to this increase is children are growing faster and so their cells are dividing more rapidly making their cells more vulnerable to DNA damage. Over the last few years, BrainAdvantage has helped many autistic individuals. We made it a practice to have all autistic patients tested for toxins and heavy metals as it is common to see significantly high amounts in their systems. Eliminating these toxins and metals from the system is helpful as the brain is trained to function better through the program.

For more information contact BrainAdvantage today!