April is Autism Awareness month and because so many more children are being diagnosed with autism, due to a broader set of guidelines and criteria, it’s important to look at what is being done to solve the problem so many children are suffering from.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological disorder classified by varying cognitive behavior delays. Severe cases show children unable to communicate, locked in repetitive behavior and lacking in normal social skills (eye-contact) while less severe cases of autism may have a child who can function in society with vast preparation.
Although the cause of autism is unknown there are a few possibilities; heavy metal toxicity (mercury), viral infections or genetic predisposition
Folate is the dietary form of folic acid, a nutrient so important it’s used before pregnancy to prevent neurological disorders. Folic acid supplements before pregnancy and during the first trimester are 100% encouraged to reduce the occurrence of developmental delays. Newer research is now looking to folate as potentially helpful in the foundations of autism.
An article Folate and methionine metabolism in autism: a systematic review first published in April 2009 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is trying to correlate autism with a disturbance in the folate-methionine pathway. Methionine is an essential amino acid (proteins cannot be made without it) and together with folate they are responsible for creating DNA, among other enzymatic roles like free radical reduction. A disruption in the folate-methionine pathway could lead to structural abnormalities in the central nervous system which could contribute to autism.
Other neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s have a similar cause and effect pattern. When the nerve synapses or the conduction of nerve cells is disrupted the effect is a certain set of symptoms; uncontrolled shaking, memory loss or difficulty in communication. The article, Folate and methionine metabolism in autism, was looking into the possibility of actually outlining a cause of autism; a dysfunction in the folate-methionine pathway.
The folate-methionine pathway is so important to the body for a few reasons. Methionine through a number of steps leads to the creation of energy within cells. Folate specifically is found in the central nervous system, the lack of which is seen in “cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), a condition associated with developmental delays (with or without autistic features), providing plausibility for involvement of the folate-methionine pathway in autism”.
Unfortunately the results of the study were inconclusive. The article states “A dysfunctional folate-methionine pathway has been identified in many individuals with autism. This pathway is crucial for DNA synthesis, DNA methylation, and cellular redox balance.” While the authors found a large amount of information regarding the folate-methionine pathway and autism, a definite conclusion cannot be made.
This is still a wonderful step forward in the treatment of autism and the use of nutrients to prevent and treat diseases. A classic example of a disease cured by nutrients is scurvy; brought on by a lack of vitamin C and resulting in blood loss, scurvy is literally cured with citrus fruit. Let’s hope we continue to move forward with the treatment of humans and diseases as homeopathically as possible.
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