While many people are aware of the behavioural symptoms associated with autism, probably not so many realize that autistics often also have gastrointestinal problems. With that in mind, scientists at the University of Arizona recently conducted a study in which a group of 18 autistic children received fecal transplants from donors with healthy gastrointestinal systems. Not only did the procedure help to "rebalance" their gut flora, but it also improved their behaviour.
First of all, a fecal transplant is just what it sounds like. Feces from one person are screened for disease-causing organisms, and then introduced into the recipient's digestive tract. In this case, the recipients first took antibiotics for two weeks, to wipe out their existing gut flora. They then received the fecal transplant initially in a high-dose liquid form, after which it was delivered in a lower-dose powder mixed into smoothies.
Of all the possible ways I could imagine to treat autism, that was not one of them...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 25 2017, @07:27PM
They also tend to be sensitive to metal on skin contact, ie jewelry. And food allergies as well. Wouldn't surprise me if there was a link with some sort of auto immune problem.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 25 2017, @07:49PM
of course it's autoimmune related! what do you think happened when they were shot up with a bunch of contaminated vaccines? mayhem, that's what!