Autism and Stem Cells - Part 2

Mercury
Last week, I wrote about how some scientists believe that stem cells can treat autism because they believe that autism is characterized by hypoperfusion (a reduction in the oxygen supply to the brain) and immune dysregulation. Scientists like Dr Leonard Smith believe that stem cells can increase blood flow, and therefore oxygen, to the brain and also treat inflammation in the gut. This sounds like great news but can stem cell treatment really “cure” autism?
Well, the simple answer is that it depends what you think is the cause of autism and autism symptoms. If you are of the opinion that autism is caused by a birth injury, a lack of oxygen at birth, then you will believe that stem cell treatment can be beneficial. However, if you believe, as I do, that there are many factors involved in causing autism and exacerbating symptoms, then you cannot believe that stem cell treatment is going to effectively “cure” autism, although it may offer short-term relief and recovery.
Environmental factors that may be involved in causing autism include:-
- Heavy metal exposure - Heavy metals in our environment include mercury, cadmium, manganese and lead.
- Pollutants - Chemicals like phenol, PCBs, dioxins, nicotine etc.
- Vaccines - The MMR vaccine, vaccines containing thimerosal and our program of childhood vaccines.
- Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies - Vitamin A, B and D deficiencies, deficiencies in essential nutrients like amino acids, Essential Fatty Acids and minerals.
- Food intolerances - Foods like gluten and casein causing gut inflammation or causing the production of peptides which acts as opiates on the brain.
- Candida Yeast - An overgrowth of candida yeast in the gut.
How can stem cell treatment possibly combat any of these factors?
It can’t.
Stem cell treament can have a short-term effect - reducing inflammation, replacing previously damaged cells, helping the immune system etc. - but if we do not combat the environmental factors that are damaging our children’s bodies the autism will once again rear its ugly head when the new cells become affected and damaged.
Dr Mark Noble, a professor of biomedical genetics and neurobiology at the University of Rochester, has been carrying out research into stem cellsĀ and the effect of environmental toxicants on these cells. In one study, Noble and his research team subjected glial progenitor stem cells in the brain to low levels of the heavy metals lead and mercury. When these stem cells were exposed to these low levels, which have previously been thought to be safe for humans, Noble and his team found that these brain cells shut down, showing that they are incredibly vulenrable to even low levels of environmental toxicants. This study shows that not only are our children’s brain cells vulnerable to damage from heavy metals and other toxins, stem cells introduced into the body during stem cell treatment will be just as vulnerable to damage.
In the study, Dr Noble commented that: “There are 80,000 to 150,000 environmental toxicants about which we know nothing” and he went on to say that it is unknown what effects other environmental toxicants are having, but that he suspects they might be making brain cells “more vulnerable to damage and disease.”
Stem cell treatment can only treat autism effectively if it is part of a whole program of treatment. We need to be treating the biomedical factors - with biomedical treatments like chelation, diet, supplements, HBOT etc. - before we can even consider treatments like stem cell treatment. If the environmental factors are still present, they will, in time, damage the new cells and we will be back to square one.
To conclude, I believe that autism is a multifactorial condition and we need to figure out what is causing the autism in the individual child to be able to treat them effectively. Biomedical treatments which combat these factors, by treating them or eliminating them from a child’s environment, will be much more effective and will lead to long-term benefits.
Tags: Biomedical treatment, environmental toxicants, heavy metals, stem cell


July 13th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Please explain more on the digestive system and its problems in autistic children…
July 13th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Some negative issues.
Sometimes depending on the food intake he suffers by indigestion & loose motions.
1) He is not getting in to conversation
2) Still 20% Hyper attitude is noticeable
3) Still he has problems for social mingleness with other children.
4) He showing extreme interest on slopes
5) He is still showing interest on spinning objects however he can be easily diverted.
6) He likes to play alone, however occasionally he likes to play with other children
7) Mixing with other children for playing is not noticeable.
9) Sudden tantrums & rigid moments against his willing are noticed.
10) He throws and breaks the things in the house.
Please advise…
July 17th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Sound like his behaviours are not quite “calmer” and quite possibility some deficiencies are present and I would not be surprised if he has an GI problems. Have him checked out by DAN doctors or call/email us for consultation.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Digestion and Elimination are two essential functions of our life processes. It is the essence of life itself. If you cannot digest/absorb the nutrients from food/supplements you digested then your boday cannot use them as healing blocks. Likewise, all wastes from the body must be eliminated properly and swiftly or else you could easily create dysbiosis, “pollutions” and further compromised the gut and immune system. The big word is called INFLAMMATION andhow does this link to autism. Big Time! Google inflammation and autism. The connections include: leaky gut syndrome, allergies, dysbiosis, yeast infection, streptococcus infection, and so forth. You could easily google all their connections. Call us if you need help!
August 26th, 2009 at 1:07 am
How to contact DAN doctors….And where are they….
Rao
September 1st, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Look for DAN on internet or thru the Autism Research Institute website.
If you cannot find a DAN doctor close to home you can contact me thru
my website for further assistance in treatment. We are located in
Algonquin, IL.
December 21st, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I would like to know if Hbot treatment is avaliable in Ottawa, Canada. My daughter was diagonos today with autism. I am wondering how fast I can get treatment for her.
December 22nd, 2009 at 4:53 am
Please give us the contact numbers…
Rao
December 31st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Hi Lillian,
Not quite sure about availability in Canada but try googling or contacting http://www.ihausa.org. Have you consider buying/leasing one and it might be feasible in the long run. We can help with this.
December 31st, 2009 at 2:10 pm
The main association to contact to look for DAN doctors is http://autism.com/ari/index.htm
July 24th, 2010 at 11:12 am
hello, admin. I live in albania. Is it possible for me to take my child to you for examination. here in my country there aren’t DAN doctors. Please help me! It’s very difficult for me to come to Americs because of the policy! Please how can I come to you? here in Albania no one can do any analysis abot the body of the autistic child? Please give me any advice! HELP!
July 26th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Hi Figo, I understand the difficulty involved to come to USA because of policy but I could still help you if you like to hire me. I am very busy with my private practice, teaching doctors and post-graduate training and my own family as well. I have obligations to those who paid me to help them.