AUTISM FIRST STEPS
AUTISM DAILY NEWSLETTER
Friday, November 23, 2001
INDEX:
* Promising Research
* Scientists: Eating Fish May Help Treat Depression
* FEAT NT Holiday Coffee chat
* Autism may be caused by an immune system response to a Virus
* DMSA Sold at Vitamin Research Without a Prescription
******************************
Promising Research
The University of Michigan
News and Information Services
News Release
412 Maynard
Ann Arbor, Michigan
48109-1399 October 30,
1998 Autism may be caused by an immune system
response to a virus ANN ARBOR---Antibodies found
in the blood of autistic children suggest that at least some cases of autism
are caused by a misguided immune response, triggered by exposure to a virus,
researchers in the University of Michigan's College of Pharmacy report.
The researchers found that autistic children who had been exposed to certain
viruses in the past showed unusually high levels of antibodies to brain
proteins, suggesting an autoimmune response. Their findings appear in the
October issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Clinical Immunology and
Immunopathology.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects brain function, interfering
with reasoning ability, imagination, communication, and social interaction.
Children with autism start talking later than other children, and when they do
speak, their communication skills are extremely limited. They often avoid
looking at other people and don't learn to read others' faces for signs of
emotion or other cues. These children typically are unable to play creatively,
and some engage in repetitive, sometimes self-destructive, behavior, such as
rocking, hand flapping or head-banging. No single cause of autism has
been found, and researchers believe that genes and environmental factors (such
as viruses or chemicals) both may contribute. The kinds of brain abnormalities
found in people with autism suggest that the disorder arises when something
disrupts normal brain development. One
possibility is that early exposure to a virus prods the body into mounting an
immune
response that somehow goes awry. In addition to
producing antibodies against the virus, the body makes antibodies against
itself, resulting in damage to tissues and organs. This "autoimmune"
response is what happens in autoimmune diseases such as lupus, and some
researchers think a similar response may account for the brain abnormalities
found in people with autism.
It was this possibility that U-M researchers Vijendra Singh and Victor Yang and
undergraduate student assistant Sheren Lin investigated. In their study of 48
autistic
children and 34 normal children and adults, the researchers measured levels of
antibodies to two viruses---measles virus and human herpesvirus-6---in the
subjects'
blood. These antibodies were chosen because they are often used in research on
known autoimmune diseases, says Singh, the principal investigator of the
project and an assistant research scientist in the College of
Pharmacy.
The researchers also measured levels of two brain autoantibodies (antibodies to
brain tissue). One, anti-MBP, is an antibody to
myelin basic protein, a protein found in the
protective sheaths around nerve fibers in the brain. The other, anti-NAFP, is
an antibody to neuron-axon filament protein, a protein that makes up the nerve
fibers themselves.
Virus antibody levels were essentially the same in autistic and non-autistic
subjects, as the researchers expected. But the majority of autistic children
who had virus antibodies also had brain autoantibodies. The higher the level of
virus antibodies, the more likely an autistic child was to have brain
autoantibodies. None of the non-autistic subjects had brain
autoantibodies.
The strongest link found in the autistic children was between measles virus
antibodies and anti-MBP, suggesting that exposure to the measles virus may
trigger an autoimmune response that interferes with the development of myelin,
says Singh. If myelin in the brain doesn't develop properly, nerve fibers won't
work as they should. This could be one way that the brain abnormalities
associated with autism arise. The question of how
exposure to measles virus occurs raises a controversial issue.
Parents of children with autism often report that the
children started showing signs of the disorder shortly after being immunized
with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine,
but no scientific studies have shown a link between vaccines and autism. In the
U-M study, almost all the subjects had had MMR immunizations, and none had ever
had a case of measles. It is possible, however, that some might have been
infected with measles virus but never developed symptoms of measles, says
Singh. (28)
Contact: Nancy Ross-Flanigan
Phone: (734) 647-1853
E-mail: rossflan@umich.edu
U-M News and Information Services
| University of Michigan
******************************
Scientists: Eating Fish May
Help Treat Depression
Scientists: Eating Fish May Help Treat Depression
By Elinor Schang
Reuters
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Nov. 15) - Remember your mother telling you: "Eat your
fish. It's good for your brain." She may have been right.
Scientists think they have evidence that fish oil could cure mental disorders
such as depression and dyslexia -- conditions increasingly common in the
Western world.
"This really does represent a breakthrough in the managing of individual
depressions," Alexandra Richardson, Senior Neuroscience Research Fellow at
Britain's University of Oxford, told a seminar about depression in Stockholm
Thursday.
"If the brain does not have the right fats, it will not be working
right."
The right fats to beat the blues are large amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids,
found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel.
Richardson's research found that the lack of these fats -- which are needed for
the normal development and functioning of brain cells -- causes depression,
autism, dyslexia and ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) in some
people.
Depression became increasingly common in the 20th century and one in four
people will suffer from a mental or neurological disorder during their
lifetime, according to World Health Organization data.
High levels of stress, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine consumption can further
decrease the levels of fatty acids, aggravating or even creating mental
disorders, Richardson said.
She believes there is a link between the dramatic increase of depression and
changing eating patterns in the West.
"We really seem to be looking at a crisis here and it's all in the
diet," she said.
In countries where people eat less fish the increase in the incidence of
depression is higher than in, for instance, Japan where fish consumption
remains high, Richardson said.
She said everyone could benefit from increasing their intake of Omega-3 fatty
acids.
"There is little too lose," Richardson said. "There are hardly
any negative side-effects, only nice cosmetic ones such as nice shiny hair,
strong nails and healthy looking skin."
11:58 11-15-01
******************************
FEAT NT Holiday Coffee chat
FEAT
North Texas Holiday Coffee Chat-last coffee chat of 2001
Please join us for an informal meeting between parents. This is a get
together that is part social- to relax and visit- but also informational in
nature. We hope to promote exchanges of ideas and experiences between
parents running treatment programs for children with Autism.
Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Time: 9:30am - 11:30am
Host: Katherine Lee
Location:
Bedford, TX
www.featnt.org for more information
Community email addresses:
List moderators: ABAqueen1@cs.com (Jenn)
KimberlyABA@aol.com (Kimberly)
Stephhulshof@aol.com (Steph)
******************************
The University of Michigan
News and Information Services
News
Release 412 Maynard
Ann Arbor, Michigan
48109-1399
October
30, 1998
Autism may be caused by an immune system response to a virus ANN ARBOR---Antibodies
found in the blood of autistic children suggest that at least some cases of
autism are caused by a misguided immune response, triggered by exposure to a
virus, researchers in the University of Michigan's College of Pharmacy report.
The researchers found that autistic children who had been exposed to certain
viruses in the past showed unusually high levels of antibodies to brain
proteins, suggesting an autoimmune response. Their findings appear in the
October issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Clinical Immunology and
Immunopathology.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects brain function, interfering
with reasoning ability, imagination, communication, and social interaction.
Children with autism start talking later than other children, and when they do
speak, their communication skills are extremely limited. They often avoid
looking at other people and don't learn to read others' faces for signs of
emotion or other cues. These children typically are unable to play creatively,
and some engage in repetitive, sometimes self-destructive, behavior, such as
rocking, hand flapping or head-banging.
No single cause of autism has been found, and researchers believe that genes
and environmental factors (such as viruses or chemicals) both may contribute.
The kinds of brain abnormalities found in people with autism suggest that the
disorder arises when something disrupts normal brain development.
One possibility is that early exposure to a virus prods the body into mounting
an immune response that somehow goes awry. In addition to producing antibodies
against the virus, the body makes antibodies against itself, resulting in
damage to tissues and organs. This "autoimmune" response is what
happens in autoimmune diseases such as lupus, and some researchers think a
similar response may account for the brain abnormalities found in people with
autism.
It was this possibility that U-M researchers Vijendra Singh and Victor Yang
and undergraduate student assistant Sheren Lin investigated. In their study of
48 autistic children and 34 normal children and adults, the researchers
measured levels of antibodies to two viruses---measles virus and human
herpesvirus-6---in the subjects' blood. These antibodies were chosen because
they are often used in research on known autoimmune diseases, says Singh, the
principal investigator of the project and an assistant research scientist in
the College of Pharmacy.
The researchers also measured levels of two brain autoantibodies (antibodies to
brain tissue). One, anti-MBP, is an antibody to myelin basic protein, a protein
found in the protective sheaths around nerve fibers in the brain. The other,
anti-NAFP, is an antibody to neuron-axon filament protein, a protein that makes
up the nerve fibers themselves.
Virus antibody levels were essentially the same in autistic and non-autistic
subjects, as the researchers expected. But the majority of autistic children
who had virus antibodies also had brain autoantibodies. The higher the level of
virus antibodies, the more likely an autistic child was to have brain
autoantibodies. None of the non-autistic subjects had brain autoantibodies.
The strongest link found in the autistic children was between measles virus
antibodies and anti-MBP, suggesting that exposure to the measles virus may
trigger an autoimmune response that interferes with the development of myelin,
says Singh. If myelin in the brain doesn't develop properly, nerve fibers won't
work as they should. This could be one way that the brain abnormalities
associated with autism arise.
The question of how exposure to measles virus occurs raises a controversial
issue. Parents of children with autism often report that the children started
showing signs of the disorder shortly after being immunized with
measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine, but
no scientific studies have shown a link between vaccines and autism. In the U-M
study, almost all the subjects had had MMR immunizations, and none had ever had
a case of measles. It is possible, however, that some might have been infected
with measles virus but never developed symptoms of measles, says Singh.
(28)
Contact: Nancy Ross-Flanigan
Phone: (734) 647-1853
E-mail: rossflan@umich.edu
******************************
DMSA Sold at Vitamin Research
Without a Prescription
In the US, DMSA usually requires an Rx (Prescription).
But there are a few places that sell it without an Rx it is legal BOTH
ways!
Vitamin Research Products sells DMSA without a prescription.
100 mg
capsules: $40 for 45 capsules, plus
about $3 for shipping. They do not sell DMSA in doses
smaller
than 100 mg, so, if you need a smaller amount
you'll have to divide it yourself. Other
Ingredients:
Microcrystalline cellulose (a natural plant fiber) and gelatin.
Contains no added sugar, starch, salt, wheat, gluten,
corn,
coloring, dairy products, flavoring or preservatives.
Vitamin Research Products, Inc., Carson City, NV 89701
USA
(800) 877-2447 (Mon - Thurs 6 AM to 6 PM pacific time;
Fri 6 AM
to 5 PM)
http://www.vrpcentral.net
For people outside the US, a non-800-number for orders is: (775)
884-1300. VRP can ship DMSA to
Germany and South Africa. (Not sure if this applies
everywhere.)
They can also ship ALA to Germany (it is not
freely available in Germany.)
******************************
Autism Awakening, Autism FIrst Steps Newsletter,
or any staff do not endorse any individuals, groups or programs.
References regarding programs, meetings, resources, research, opinions,
treatment, etc., should not be interpreted as an indication of
endorsement. They are provided for informational purposes only. This is
an attempt to keep the nation advised to all diagnostic, treatment, therapy,
educational,
options available as well as legislative autism updates and more.
To View
Newsletter Policies they are located at the Newsletter
Website:
Direct Link:: Autism
First Steps Newsletter
http://autismawakeninginia.bizland.com/autismfirststepsnewsletter/
To have
friends, Family, or professionals join:
1. they can go to the above link
2. They can go to the Newsletter Group page located at:
Direct Link::
Yahoo!
Groups : AutismFirstStepsAutismNewsletter
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AutismFirstStepsAutismNewsletter
3 Send a e-mail to AutismAwakening@aol.com and ask to be subscribed to
the free online daily newsletter
Visit one of the largest websites Commited to bringing you the latest in news,
options, and techniques, and more on Autism located at:
Direct Link:: Autism Awakening 4 Kids
www.AutismAwakening.com
To Submit a
story, alert, readers post, or advertisement please e-mail AutismAwakening@aol.com
To be removed reply to this e-mail and requested to be removed from the list.
To
unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
AutismFirstStepsAutismNewsletter-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of
Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
Terms of Service.
ALL
INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE
KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED
AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO
VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU
ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.