Autism Spectrum Disorders

Untangling the web

By Barb Jarmoska

Chicken soup for lunch. Chicken soup for lunch. Chicken soup for lunch.” For the past three decades, whenever I hear the word “autism,” I also hear that four-word sentence, and Matthew’s childlike voice as he repeated the words over and over and over. In the early 1970s, I taught a class of 18 preschoolers. These children manifested just about every mental, physical and emotional challenge I had studied while obtaining my BS in Special Education and was now learning in greater depth as I pursued a graduate degree in Early Childhood Development.

I was with my students in a classroom from 8:30 to noon each weekday. I spent the afternoons visiting the kids in their homes, helping their parents to become more adept at teaching, feeding and caring for these special-needs children. The youngsters suffered from a plethora of diagnoses – cerebral palsy, spina bifida, cleft palate, attention deficit, hyperactivity, mental retardation, deafness and, yes, autism. In many ways, they taught me more than I ever taught them. This experience opened my eyes to the very real link between nutrition, behavior and learning. These children paved the way to my lifetime study of how nutrition impacts every aspect of our health and well-being.

Thirty-five years later, I know more about autism than I did back then, having learned through independent study what was never taught in college. Today, I would have new and better recommendations to share with Matthew’s kind, heartbroken and utterly frustrated mom. No guarantees, but better advice.

Since my teaching days in the ’70s, there has been a frightening increase in the rate of diagnosis of the cluster of disabilities that are now referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. Coincidentally, debate over the causes and treatments of ASD is often heated, the sides polarized, and funding, networking and cooperation strangely and sadly absent.

One hotly debated topic is whether rates of incidence are actually rising or if improved diagnostic techniques are in place. State departments of education around the country are reporting alarming increases in the numbers of kids with autism. It is difficult to imagine that these trends are explained entirely by better diagnosis. The textbook Child Neurology-2000 states, “The increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism is so spectacular that it is unlikely to be merely because health care workers are paying greater attention to this condition.” This well respected, mainstream text is one of a growing number of sources conceding that an epidemic of autism cannot be explained away by improved diagnostics.

The hottest debate in the autism arena is the probable link between autism and mercury – a toxic heavy metal. The American Academy of Pediatrics maintains there is no relationship between vaccines (which contain Thimerosol, a mercury-based preservative) and autism. Many parents and specialists believe otherwise. One such physician, Dr. Francis Powers, Jr., recognizes the challenge of autism from both a professional and personal level as his grandson, although strong and healthy at birth, was diagnosed with ASD at the age of 15 months.

Recently, the Freshlife wellness coaches and I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Powers at his Nutritional Medicine Clinic on Grampian Boulevard in Williamsport. Having spent a year in graduate school at the University of Rochester researching cell membrane transport of organic mercury compounds, Dr. Powers brings scientifically proven, albeit overlooked, facts to his four-step protocol for autism. When questioned why he believes genetic science and the proven impact of mercury is a subject for debate, Dr. Powers replied, “A lot of people have a stake in maintaining there is no relationship between mercury and autism. They are promoting studies where funding, not science, drives the results.”

To oversimplify the science, the human body has a gene known as MTHFR. Children with autism, along with about 40 percent of the general population, have polymorphisms on this gene that ultimately prevent them from producing adequate amounts of glutathione. Glutathione is a primary antioxidant (detoxification molecule) in the human body. Because adequate glutathione is essential for elimination of mercury, when children with this defective gene are exposed to the heavy metal mercury, it remains in their bodies wreaking havoc on many organs and systems. This damage can subsequently manifest as the various signs and symptoms of the autism spectrum. In addition to abnormal emotional and social behaviors, digestive and immune challenges are commonplace.

Dr. Powers’ grandson was diagnosed with toxic heavy metal poisoning by his pediatrician. The child has since benefited significantly from his grandfather’s four-part treatment protocol that begins with chelation therapy using transdermal DMPS/glutathione. This method of mercury detoxification is followed up with metabolic support, close dietary supervision and nutritional supplements. The child’s progress has been so significant that he is now in a regular pre-school class, plays well with other children and has dramatically improved his intellectual skills. By the time he enters grade school, he will in all likelihood be able to attend regular classes.

The evidence supporting Dr. Powers’ protocol, as well as the work of Karen DeFelice and others affirms my belief in the critical role diet and supplements can play in the treatment of autism. In addition to removing mercury from the body and reversing its metabolic consequences, Powers’ protocol focuses on improving the diet and using supplements to correct deficiencies. In this arena, Freshlife offers support to parents who are seeking to discover how dietary changes and nutritional supplements can improve the quality of life for an autistic child.

The child’s diet should be designed according to unique sensitivities as well as generally applicable principles. Freshlife offers one-on-one nutritional counseling to parents in order to help structure a plan that eliminates the foods most apt to cause problems, rebalance essential fatty acids, control the overgrowth of yeast and improve nutrient absorption. This often calls for the elimination of casein and gluten, the structurally similar proteins found in dairy and wheat. In addition, hydrogenated fats and Omega 6 vegetable oils are replaced with Omega 3 oils and refined carbohydrates are replaced with fresh fruits and vegetables and whole, sprouted grains.

According to David Kirby, author of “Evidence of Harm” - a provocative expose examining mercury in vaccines and the autism epidemic - autism diagnoses have risen from 1 in 10,000 in 1987 to 1 in 166 today. Clearly, something is amiss. A controversy rages, pitting families against the federal government, public health agencies, pediatricians and pharmaceutical companies.

In my recent discussion with Ken Hurst, MD, formerly of Cornerstone Family Practice in Williamsport, Dr. Hurst shared his position. “I’ve been under the growing impression that autism is multi-factorial in origin, with recent evidence pointing to a role in some families of a genetic propensity. DNA damage from nutritional deficiencies and/or environmental toxicities over several generations may finally be found to contribute the most to autism, just as the Lake Apopka findings on genetic damage to alligators took several generations to affect their fertility. Two other ubiquitous toxins that may be involved with autism are aspartame and acetaminophen, known brain poisons. There has been a recognized connection between acetaminophen and Alzheimer’s Disease for at least 12 years, yet Tylenol is still on the market and heavily promoted, especially for kids, and there’s the rub. Alzheimer’s and Autism have both been on the rise since Tylenol hit the market back in the ’60s.”

The debate continues. Meanwhile, children suffer. Autism is a heartbreaking and multi-faceted disorder that, no doubt, will prove to have numerous causes. However, there is much we know now that can make a difference in the lives of children and families. I urge you to focus on what you can do – seek treatment and advice from those who can provide it and stand in the gap as an advocate and a voice for the children you love.

For further information on treatment protocols, to arrange for testing, or to better understand the genetic science, B12 methylation deficiency and other biochemistry inherent in autism, contact the Powers Clinic at 570-322-6450.