Autism Rates Rising and Pesticides

On April 30, the CDC announced that about 1.7% or 1 in 59 children were identified with autism, based on data from 11 communities in the US. Previous estimates were 1 in 150 and 1 in 68. As discussed in previous posts, greener environments are linked to less autism and the chemical Bisphenol A in pregnancy, which the FDA states is safe, is linked to increased autism rates.

A recent study involving 536 children, followed to age 14, shows an association between organopesticide exposure and autism traits, (Sharon K. Sagiv, Maria H. Harris, Robert B. Gunier, Katherine R. Kogut, Kim G. Harley, Julianna Deardorff, Asa Bradman, et al., "Prenatal Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Traits Related to Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Population Living in Proximity to Agriculture," Environmental Health Perspectives 126, no. 4 (April 2018): doi:10.1289/EHP2580). Having prenatal metabolites in the urine was associated with poorer social behavior, reported by both teachers and parents. In fact, a ten fold increase in the pesticide metabolites was associated with a 2.7 point increase in the parent-reported Social Responsiveness Scale.

We need to not just treat problems, but to prevent problems to begin with.

Autism, ABA and Exercise: It All Comes Together for My Daughter Talia

A new literature analysis of 20 studies on exercise in autism showed improvement in manipulative skills, locomotor skills, skill related fitness, social functioning, and muscular strength and endurance, (Sean Healy, Adam Nacario, Rock E. Braithwaite, Chris Hopper, "The Effect of Physical Activity Interventions on Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-analysis," Autism Research (2018): doi:10.1002/aur.1955).

How do we get individuals motivated through exercise? We can do it through ABA. Please check out before and after videos (https://www.facebook.com/ilanaslaff) of my daughter learning to ride a bike/trike on my facebook page. Initally, she needed frequent positive reinforcement with edibles. That has been successfully faded. Notice in the after video, no one is holding edibles in front of her.

Psychiatric Medications, Dementia Risk, and Autism Specific Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Some psychiatric medications which block acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain, that are used to treat depression and anxiety, such as paroxetine and amitriptyline, are associated with an increased risk of dementia according to a published study, (Kathryn Richardson, Chris Fox, Ian Maidment, Nicholas Steel, Yoon K. Loke, Antony Arthur and Phyo K Myint, et al., "Anticholinergic Drugs and Risk of Dementia: Case-Control Study," BMJ 361, (April 2018): doi:10.1136/bmj.k1315). 40,770 patients with a diagnosis of dementia were compared to 283,933 controls, all aged between 65-99. Antidepressants, antiparkinson medications, and medications used for urinary incontinence were linked to an increased risk.

Another recent controlled study showed how cognitive behavior therapy, CBT adapted to individuals with autism, using visuals for example, can help with their emotional regulation and psychopathology, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, (Johnathan A. Weiss, Kendra Thomson, Priscilla Burnham Riosa, Carly Albaum, Victoria chan, Andrea Maughan, Paula Tablon, et al., ""A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial of Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Improve Emotion Regulation in Children with Autism," Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (April 2018): doi:10.1111/jcpp.12915). CBT unlike medications, has no side effects. Unfortunately, also unlike medications, CBT is not often available.

There is a lot of political and professional talk on how care needs to be "person centered" and "patient centered" but unfortunately US education and healthcare are really cutting services centered, profit centered and pharmaceutical centered.

Judge Rotenberg Center Documentary Trailer

https://youtu.be/zIE2nAzUwFU

Obesity, Diabetes and Autism: Our Children are What We Eat and How Much We Exercise

According to a study involving 2,734 children, 102 with autism, children have over a three times increased risk of autism, particularly with intellectual disability, if the mother had obesity and prepregnancy or pregnancy diabetes, (Mengying Li, Daniele Fallin, Anne Riley, Rebecca Landa, Sheila O. Walker, Michael Silverstein, Deanna Caruso, et. al., "The Association of Maternal Obesity and Diabetes With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities," Pediatrics 137, no. 2 (January 2016): doi:10.1542/peds.2015-2016). According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015-2016, the prevalence of obesity was 39.8% in the US.

Our government subsidizes the corn industry to make cheap sugar, known as corn syrup, as well as the meat, dairy and fast food industries, which is destroying our health. Marketing food to children and supplying unhealthy food and drinks at school compounds the problem. Many schools have eliminated recess although children need physical activity. Schools need to focus on lifetime sports such as running and cycling. There is controversy over bike lanes even though exercise promotes health, including among other conditions, decreasing obesity and diabetes. We need to be funding health care and education, not health destruction.