Autism is a broad and complicated neurological disorder. People who suffer from autism fall somewhere on a wide spectrum, making autism difficult to diagnose and treat. Diagnosis of autism is done by an entire team of doctors. Symptoms include a wide range of issues in social skills, communication skills, and behavior. Prevalence of autism is rapidly on the rise, and while this may be due to better techniques in diagnosis, there may be some external factors that are causing a rise in this neurological disorder.
There is a strong, complicated genetic basis for autism. Though environment is also seen to have large effects on the disorder. Treatments such as improving diet, avoiding food allergies, eating gluten free, taking vitamins/minerals, getting enough essential fatty acids, social therapy in social skills, language and communication, imitation, play, daily living, and motor skills, as well as a long list of other pills and supplements. These treatments have been shown to be successful and some children with mild autism have been seen to almost recover completely. Diet may be considered the best treatment, seeing that those with autism do not have normal metabolism. Alterations in diet, and simply eating healthier foods, may have a large impact.
Something our class focused on this week were PUFAs, or polyunsaturated fatty acids. PUFAs are essential for brain growth and development and they also enhance cognitive development. They have also been seen to increase levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), something that those with autism are lacking. Because of this, PUFAs are being looked into as something that could help those with autism. It is possible that targeting this area of the disease, autism could even be cured. Studies have yet to be done regarding this area and how increasing levels of PUFAs would affect other areas of the brain.
With much research yet to be done and the broad range of this disorder, there is a great deal of room for improvement on diagnosis and treatment. Children with autism should be taken on a case by case basis and each looked at carefully. Hopes are high that in the future those with autism will suffer much less than they currently do. For now, it is important that we love and care for those with autism, especially children. Having people in a child’s life that deeply love and care for them can be truly life altering.
A Cure is Possible
