Autism - some root causes
Autism on the rise?
It seems like every day I see more and more people with a diagnosis of asd
There are various views out there but Dr. Rachel doesn't subscribe to the view that we are seeing more autism now due to increased awareness or better diagnostic accuracy.
Dr Rachel's view is that rates are increasing due to environmental toxins and ancestrally-inappropriate lifestyle choices.
For example, there is ample evidence of carnitine deficiency being a prominent issue in autism. The brain needs ample carnitine to function due to its antioxidant effects at the level of the neurons. Carnitine deficiency also leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondria are what control neurotransmission aka communication within the brain. Study here.
Cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury levels were found to be higher in children with autism in a study published in 2023. Study here.
Of course genetics can play a part but our genetic expression (known as epigenetics) is influenced by our circadian rhythms and also by when we eat and what we eat.
What Dr. Rachel is really saying here is that there is a lot that can be done to help!
