Conference
Neurological Dysfunctions and Non-Neurological Comorbidities in Clinical Manifestations of Autism and Their Role in ASD Development: 15 Year-long Experience in Autism Diagnosing and Treatment
المستخلص
It has been nearly 80 years since Drs. Asperger and Kanner first identified the condition known today as Autism or ASD.
Subsequently, it has been officially established that autism is a multifaceted anomaly in the maturation of the neurological system, typically detected during early life. Nevertheless, this pathological condition progresses through several underlying stages of growth, commencing in the prenatal phase and evolving into an autistic phenotype during the early and later postnatal phases.
Significant deviations in the brain and neurological system structure and function characterize autism.
The initial clinical manifestations of autism include sensory impairments such as distorted perception of auditory, visual, gustatory, olfactory, and tactile stimuli and motor dysfunction characterized by diminished motor abilities, gait abnormalities, oculomotor dysfunction, and similar symptoms.
These diseases occur before obvious neuropsychiatric symptoms manifest, such as behavioral abnormalities, learning impairments, and the inability to interact verbally and nonverbally. It is crucial to acknowledge that these sensory abnormalities significantly contribute to the autistic child's failure to develop the typical behavioral, linguistic, and motor skills. In autism, sensory overloads and distortions hinder the ability to perceive and integrate information, thereby affecting typical development, learning, and adaptation. In addition, sensory distortions in individuals with autism can result in several other manifestations of autism, including anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, compromised cognitive functioning, exhaustion, underdeveloped problem-solving abilities, and impaired decision-making skills.
In addition to the above symptoms, there is a lack of attention given to several other signs and manifestations of these illnesses. Based on my extensive 15-year experience studying and treating several hundred children with autism, including those complicated with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, I have seen that these individuals are not only affected by neurological and mental disorders, but they also exhibit early signs of acquiring additional health problems. Individuals diagnosed with autism are highly prone to developing metabolic and endocrine diseases, including diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, dyslipidemia, electrolyte imbalances, vitamin metabolism issues, and various others.
In addition, children with autism frequently experience comorbid disorders encompassing otitis, skin infections, oral cavity infections, and urogenital system infections. Gastrointestinal issues are substantially more common in children with ASD. The prevalent gastrointestinal problems observed in these children include persistent constipation or diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux, persistent bloating, stomach discomfort or pain, inflammatory bowel disease, food intolerance, and dysfunction of the gallbladder and pancreas. A significant proportion of these youngsters experience many types of allergies, including dermatitis, eczema, and bronchial asthma.
The literature on the involvement of comorbid conditions in ASD is limited and still in the early stages, leading to ongoing discussions and uncertainties. Several research studies have documented an association between ASD and dysfunctions, as mentioned above, but a definitive cause-and-effect relationship has not been established.
Nevertheless, a relatively recent agreement among scientists characterizes autism as a systemic condition that involves inflammation, is influenced by genetic predisposition, and is worsened by specific environmental teratogens. Furthermore, all autism-linked dysfunctions, such as neurological, psychiatric, immunological, endocrine, allergy, and metabolic issues, are connected to inflammation. This inflammation can occur across the body, in specific areas, and the nervous system. The presence of inflammation, negatively supported by the identified triggers, worsens the symptoms of autism.
Accordingly, we have developed laboratory diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for comorbid illnesses that have demonstrated efficacy by significantly enhancing the quality of life as a whole, and particularly in facilitating the mental well-being of children with autism.
Subsequently, it has been officially established that autism is a multifaceted anomaly in the maturation of the neurological system, typically detected during early life. Nevertheless, this pathological condition progresses through several underlying stages of growth, commencing in the prenatal phase and evolving into an autistic phenotype during the early and later postnatal phases.
Significant deviations in the brain and neurological system structure and function characterize autism.
The initial clinical manifestations of autism include sensory impairments such as distorted perception of auditory, visual, gustatory, olfactory, and tactile stimuli and motor dysfunction characterized by diminished motor abilities, gait abnormalities, oculomotor dysfunction, and similar symptoms.
These diseases occur before obvious neuropsychiatric symptoms manifest, such as behavioral abnormalities, learning impairments, and the inability to interact verbally and nonverbally. It is crucial to acknowledge that these sensory abnormalities significantly contribute to the autistic child's failure to develop the typical behavioral, linguistic, and motor skills. In autism, sensory overloads and distortions hinder the ability to perceive and integrate information, thereby affecting typical development, learning, and adaptation. In addition, sensory distortions in individuals with autism can result in several other manifestations of autism, including anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, compromised cognitive functioning, exhaustion, underdeveloped problem-solving abilities, and impaired decision-making skills.
In addition to the above symptoms, there is a lack of attention given to several other signs and manifestations of these illnesses. Based on my extensive 15-year experience studying and treating several hundred children with autism, including those complicated with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, I have seen that these individuals are not only affected by neurological and mental disorders, but they also exhibit early signs of acquiring additional health problems. Individuals diagnosed with autism are highly prone to developing metabolic and endocrine diseases, including diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, dyslipidemia, electrolyte imbalances, vitamin metabolism issues, and various others.
In addition, children with autism frequently experience comorbid disorders encompassing otitis, skin infections, oral cavity infections, and urogenital system infections. Gastrointestinal issues are substantially more common in children with ASD. The prevalent gastrointestinal problems observed in these children include persistent constipation or diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux, persistent bloating, stomach discomfort or pain, inflammatory bowel disease, food intolerance, and dysfunction of the gallbladder and pancreas. A significant proportion of these youngsters experience many types of allergies, including dermatitis, eczema, and bronchial asthma.
The literature on the involvement of comorbid conditions in ASD is limited and still in the early stages, leading to ongoing discussions and uncertainties. Several research studies have documented an association between ASD and dysfunctions, as mentioned above, but a definitive cause-and-effect relationship has not been established.
Nevertheless, a relatively recent agreement among scientists characterizes autism as a systemic condition that involves inflammation, is influenced by genetic predisposition, and is worsened by specific environmental teratogens. Furthermore, all autism-linked dysfunctions, such as neurological, psychiatric, immunological, endocrine, allergy, and metabolic issues, are connected to inflammation. This inflammation can occur across the body, in specific areas, and the nervous system. The presence of inflammation, negatively supported by the identified triggers, worsens the symptoms of autism.
Accordingly, we have developed laboratory diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for comorbid illnesses that have demonstrated efficacy by significantly enhancing the quality of life as a whole, and particularly in facilitating the mental well-being of children with autism.
الكلمات المفتاحية
Neurological Development
Prenatal Phase
Postnatal Phases
Brain Structure Abnormalities
