Update on Autism-Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Paradigm Shift (March 2021)
In 2019 (see July post) we reported on research suggesting the absence of certain non-pathogenic bacteria in our bodies may explain the cause of Autism-Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and may lead to its effective treatment. Dr Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown of Arizona State University, having found that certain microbes are consistently absent from children with autism, she and her team attempted a wholesale repopulation by emptying the guts of several autistic infants of their resident flora and inoculating faecal enemas taken from healthy contemporaries. The results were highly significant. The diversity of microbes in her patients’ guts increased and had positive consequences. Their gastrointestinal symptoms abated but their behaviour improved too.
The Economist Magazine (February 13th 2021) recently reported further exciting developments. Dr Krajmalnik-Brown and her team recognised the earlier study had significant limitations. There was no control group so there is the possibility that what was observed was a placebo effect. No food diaries were kept so change of diet might have been responsible for the positive results. Now, further larger trials are underway with the aim of getting regulatory approval for the procedure as a form of treatment. She also hopes to make the therapeutic microbial cocktail in the laboratory rather than relying on natural samples.
Born in Wales, educated in the UK and in the USA. Worked in the corporate and charity/non-profit sectors for 35 years. Was CEO and Director of national and international for-profit and not-for-profit companies before moving into the therapy world.