Hot off the press:  Published in June 2015, the medical journal entitled “Metabolic and mitochondrial disorders associated with epilepsy in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)” the panel of researchers investigate the coexistence of autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy.  They further explored all metabolic conditions that have been alleged to contribute to both ASD and epilepsy.

Specific to metabolic disorders, the researchers explored mitochondrial disorders, errors in folate metabolism, nutritional deficiencies, fatty acid deficiencies, amino acid deficiencies and GABA/Glutamate variances; all of which I explore in my practice.  In their words:

“Thus, epilepsy may be a common symptom of metabolic disorders and may be a clue that a metabolic disorder may be underlying the etiology of the neurodevelopmental abnormalities in children with epilepsy and ASD.”

” It is also important to consider many of the metabolic disorders even when genetic disorders are diagnosed.” [This is an important distinction.  Genetic variances that express later in development can potentially be “turned off”].

They further state that “One advantage of investigating and diagnosing metabolic disorders is that treatments for many of these metabolic disorders are available”.  Yes, I’m doing a dance right about now.

You can read the full article here.

Be well,

Lynn