Brain inflammation link to autism

[Guest guest]

This is really important for professinals to start understanding about autism,

its a medical problem that creates neuro problems.

RESEARCH

Brain Inflammation Link To Autism

Scientists have produced compelling evidence that autism may in some cases

be linked to inflammation of the brain.

[Thanks to Stone.]

http://new.bbc.co.uk/1/health/4004075.stm

They found certain immune system components that promote inflammation

are consistently activated in people with autism.

Autistic children have difficulties in social interaction, may show

repetitive behaviours and may have unusual attachments to objects or

routines.

The s Hopkins University research is published in ls of

Neurology.

Autism is a disorder of the developing brain that appears in early

childhood. It is estimated to afflict between two and five of every 1,000

children and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls.

The condition has a strong genetic component. For instance, identical

twins with autism are both usually affected.

However, the number of children with autism appears to be increasing

more than expected for a genetic disorder.

This suggests to that genetic abnormalities require the influence of

other factors to cause the disorder.

Birth complications, toxins, diet, and viruses and other pathogens

have been suggested, though there is no strong evidence for any of these.

In recent years, there have been scientific hints of immune system

irregularities in children with autism, but not all studies have confirmed

this.

The s Hopkins team sought a more definitive answer by looking not

at the immune system overall, but at immune components inside the relatively

sealed environment of the nervous system.

They examined brain tissue from 11 people with autism, aged five to 44

years, who had died of accidents or injuries.

Key chemicals

Compared with normal control brains, the brains of the people with

autism were found to contain abnormal patterns of immune system proteins

called cytokines and chemokines consistent with inflammation.

Researcher Dr Pardo-Villamizar said: " These findings reinforce

the theory that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism,

although it is not yet clear whether it is destructive or beneficial, or

both, to the developing brain. "

Similarly, samples of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from six children

with autism were also found to contain elevated levels of cytokines.

The researchers say it might eventually be possible to develop a

diagnostic test for autism based on looking for signs of inflammation - and

that treating this inflammation might reduce the symptoms of autism.

However, Dr Zimmerman, a paediatric neurologist at the

Kennedy-Krieger Institute in Baltimore who also worked on the study, said it

was possible that inflammation was produced as a result of the brain trying

to combat some other process damaging to brain cells.

A spokesperson for the National Autistic Society said other scientists

had also examined the possible connection between the immune system and

autism.

One study has linked the condition to the disease encephalitis, while

another found raised levels of nitric oxide in the plasma of children with

autism.

The chemical that plays a role in the immune response, and which is

known to affect neurodevelopmental processes.

* * *

[Guest guest]

This is really important for professinals to start understanding about autism,

its a medical problem that creates neuro problems.

RESEARCH

Brain Inflammation Link To Autism

Scientists have produced compelling evidence that autism may in some cases

be linked to inflammation of the brain.

[Thanks to Stone.]

http://new.bbc.co.uk/1/health/4004075.stm

They found certain immune system components that promote inflammation

are consistently activated in people with autism.

Autistic children have difficulties in social interaction, may show

repetitive behaviours and may have unusual attachments to objects or

routines.

The s Hopkins University research is published in ls of

Neurology.

Autism is a disorder of the developing brain that appears in early

childhood. It is estimated to afflict between two and five of every 1,000

children and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls.

The condition has a strong genetic component. For instance, identical

twins with autism are both usually affected.

However, the number of children with autism appears to be increasing

more than expected for a genetic disorder.

This suggests to that genetic abnormalities require the influence of

other factors to cause the disorder.

Birth complications, toxins, diet, and viruses and other pathogens

have been suggested, though there is no strong evidence for any of these.

In recent years, there have been scientific hints of immune system

irregularities in children with autism, but not all studies have confirmed

this.

The s Hopkins team sought a more definitive answer by looking not

at the immune system overall, but at immune components inside the relatively

sealed environment of the nervous system.

They examined brain tissue from 11 people with autism, aged five to 44

years, who had died of accidents or injuries.

Key chemicals

Compared with normal control brains, the brains of the people with

autism were found to contain abnormal patterns of immune system proteins

called cytokines and chemokines consistent with inflammation.

Researcher Dr Pardo-Villamizar said: " These findings reinforce

the theory that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism,

although it is not yet clear whether it is destructive or beneficial, or

both, to the developing brain. "

Similarly, samples of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from six children

with autism were also found to contain elevated levels of cytokines.

The researchers say it might eventually be possible to develop a

diagnostic test for autism based on looking for signs of inflammation - and

that treating this inflammation might reduce the symptoms of autism.

However, Dr Zimmerman, a paediatric neurologist at the

Kennedy-Krieger Institute in Baltimore who also worked on the study, said it

was possible that inflammation was produced as a result of the brain trying

to combat some other process damaging to brain cells.

A spokesperson for the National Autistic Society said other scientists

had also examined the possible connection between the immune system and

autism.

One study has linked the condition to the disease encephalitis, while

another found raised levels of nitric oxide in the plasma of children with

autism.

The chemical that plays a role in the immune response, and which is

known to affect neurodevelopmental processes.

* * *

[Guest guest]

It seems I read about this before, but here is the link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4004075.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 15 November, 2004, 00:02 GMT

E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Brain inflammation link to autism

Autism is a mysterious condition

Scientists have produced compelling evidence that autism may in some

cases be linked to inflammation of the brain.

They found certain immune system components that promote

inflammation are consistently activated in people with autism.

Autistic children have difficulties in social interaction, may show

repetitive behaviours and may have unusual attachments to objects or

routines.

The s Hopkins University research is published in ls of

Neurology.

These findings reinforce the theory that immune activation in the

brain is involved in autism.

Dr Pardo-Villamizar

Autism is a disorder of the developing brain that appears in early

childhood. It is estimated to afflict between two and five of every

1,000 children and is four times more likely to strike boys than

girls.

The condition has a strong genetic component. For instance,

identical twins with autism are both usually affected.

However, the number of children with autism appears to be increasing

more than expected for a genetic disorder.

This suggests to that genetic abnormalities require the influence of

other factors to cause the disorder.

Birth complications, toxins, diet, and viruses and other pathogens

have been suggested, though there is no strong evidence for any of

these.

In recent years, there have been scientific hints of immune system

irregularities in children with autism, but not all studies have

confirmed this.

The s Hopkins team sought a more definitive answer by looking

not at the immune system overall, but at immune components inside

the relatively sealed environment of the nervous system.

They examined brain tissue from 11 people with autism, aged five to

44 years, who had died of accidents or injuries.

Key chemicals

Compared with normal control brains, the brains of the people with

autism were found to contain abnormal patterns of immune system

proteins called cytokines and chemokines consistent with

inflammation.

Researcher Dr Pardo-Villamizar said: " These findings

reinforce the theory that immune activation in the brain is involved

in autism, although it is not yet clear whether it is destructive or

beneficial, or both, to the developing brain. "

Similarly, samples of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from six children

with autism were also found to contain elevated levels of cytokines.

The researchers say it might eventually be possible to develop a

diagnostic test for autism based on looking for signs of

inflammation - and that treating this inflammation might reduce the

symptoms of autism.

However, Dr Zimmerman, a paediatric neurologist at the

Kennedy-Krieger Institute in Baltimore who also worked on the study,

said it was possible that inflammation was produced as a result of

the brain trying to combat some other process damaging to brain

cells.

A spokesperson for the National Autistic Society said other

scientists had also examined the possible connection between the

immune system and autism.

One study has linked the condition to the disease encephalitis,

while another found raised levels of nitric oxide in the plasma of

children with autism.

The chemical that plays a role in the immune response, and which is

known to affect neurodevelopmental processes.

[Guest guest]

This story appeared in Singapore newspapers today - as per the Reuters wire.

Re: Brain inflammation link to autism

" Doctors closer to finding cause of autism " -- NZ Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storyprint.cfm?storyID=3610371

" Brain Inflammation Found in Autism - Study " -- Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews & storyID=6818958

" Swelling of brain may be linked to autism, study finds " -- Independent, UK

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=582927

" Brain’s Immune System Triggered in Autism " -- Newswise [press release]

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/508316/

" Autism may be caused by brain swelling due to immune system reaction " --

Med News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=16379

" Brain inflammation is a sign of autism " -- News-Medical.net

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=6289

" Brain's Immune System Triggered in Autism " -- AScribe

http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/spew4th.pl?ascribeid=20041115.112559 & time=13%

2056%20PST & year=2004 & public=1

[Note: Thanks to all those scientists involved in this research !!]