Rates of autism have increased nearly 60-fold since the late 1970s, with the most significant increases occurring in the past decade. The latest numbers for the U.S. shows it affects about one in 150 American children.

However, according to an article in the Daily Mail (July 9, 2007) the rate of autism in Great Britain may now be as high as 1 in 58!

This shocking number was the outcome of a study performed by Cambridge Professor Baron-Cohen and his team. They looked at the incidence of autism among 12,000 children at Cambridgeshire primary schools between 2001 and 2004.

Professor Baron-Cohen believes a combination of genetics and environmental factors such as pesticides and exposure to excessive hormones in the womb are potential culprits for the rise.

Genetics (the so-called “Fragile X syndrome” being the most common) was recently hailed as “the cause,” especially in U.S. media, where most failed to underscore the fact that genetics account for no more than 1 percent of the cases of autism.

Meanwhile the other 99 percent are still unaccounted for.

Dr. Blaylock has written extensively on the subject of vaccine-induced autism, but despite sound scientific evidence of how toxins like mercury and aluminum damage your brain, especially when introduced at such an early age, Big Pharma-backed proponents of vaccines are still unwilling to even look at the issue.

Environmental triggers that cannot be ignored include: 

• Mercury –It is already an established fact that exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions -- all similar to traits defining, or associated with autism. Thimerosal, which is added to many vaccines, has become a major source of mercury in children who, within their first two years, may have received a quantity of mercury that clearly exceeds safety guidelines.
  
  
• Vaccine Virus’ – Vaccines contain numerous active agents, including live viruses, killed bacteria and toxic chemicals including aluminum, mercury and formaldehyde. Whereas many focus solely on mercury in the vaccines as the culprit in causing autism, the virus link is equally compelling.

In this case, an abnormal immune reaction primes your immune system to react against your body’s organs, as it creates “organ-specific” autoantibodies against itself. In the case of autistic autoimmune reactions, the organ in question is mainly your brain. However, gastrointestinal problems, such as “leaky gut” are also a common organ-specific ailment.

The strongest link exists between the measles virus antibodies (from the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine) and anti-myelin basic protein (MBP), suggesting that exposure to the measles virus may trigger an autoimmune response that interferes with the development of myelin. If myelin in your brain doesn't develop properly, nerve fibers won't work as they should, giving rise to the brain abnormalities associated with autism.

• Pasteurized Milk – Other studies indicate that both autism and schizophrenia may be linked to your inability to properly break down a protein found in milk. Personally I believe this is related to pasteurized milk and have seen many autistic children thrive on raw milk products, especially fermented ones like kefir or yogurt.

When not broken down, the milk protein caseinate produces exorphins -- morphine-like compounds -- that become absorbed by areas of your brain where they cause cells to dysfunction. The findings suggest that an intestinal flaw, such as a malfunctioning enzyme, is to blame for your inability to break down this milk protein.

Researchers have discovered that the protein is absorbed by 32 different areas of your brain, including sections responsible for vision, hearing and communication, which could account for many behavioral symptoms of both diseases.

• Wireless Technology – A much more recent, groundbreaking theory has been suggested by a study published in the Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine: Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from cell phones, cell towers, Wi-Fi devices and other similar wireless technologies may work in conjunction with genetic and environmental factors, becoming an accelerating factor in autism.

After more than five years of research on children with autism they found that EMR negatively affects cell membranes, allowing heavy metal toxins, which are associated with autism, to build up in your body.

EMR can trap heavy metals inside of nerve cells, which could accelerate the onset of symptoms of heavy metal toxicity, and hinder your body’s natural clearance of the toxins.

How Can You Tell if Your Child has Autism?

On October 29, 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) sent out a news release with new evaluation guidelines and treatment recommendations, including their 34-page clinical report, “Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.”

It provides detailed information on signs and symptoms, geared toward helping pediatricians recognize and assess autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in their patients.

Early warning signs, prior to the age of 18 months, include:

• not turning when you say your baby’s name
• not turning to look when you point to something and say, “Look at…” and not pointing themselves to show you an interesting object or event
• lack of back and forth babbling
• smiling late
• not making eye contact with people
• forming attachments to hard items, such as pens, flashlights, keys or action figures, etc. rather than stuffed animals, special pillows or blankets

According to their report:

“Red Flags” that are absolute indications for immediate evaluation include: no babbling or pointing or other gesture by 12 months; no single words by 16 months; no two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months; and loss of language or social skills at any age.

Despite the fact that the AAP goes on to say that autism “never goes away,” I am encouraged that they urge pediatricians to be open-minded to alternative treatments, to become more knowledgeable of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and to avoid becoming defensive or dismissive when parents want to try nonstandard therapies.

That is a good start.

How Can You Help Your Child Prevent or Recover From Autism?

As Jenny McCarthy’s case has shown, there is definitely hope. Here are my best recommendations:

1. Carefully review the vaccination issue, including the conventional vaccination schedule. Know that in most U.S. states you have the right to opt out of vaccines. You may also want to review some of the recommendations for a more sensible vaccination schedule.

2. Avoid exposure to as many environmental toxins as you can, such as pesticides, herbicides, and sources of mercury, aluminum and fluoride.

3. Avoid exposure to cell phones and other wireless technology, such as Wi-Fi in your home.

4. Have your child eat a diet tailored to their nutritional type for optimal health. In my experience, nearly ALL children seem to respond favorably to the dietary changes when properly implemented

5. Pasteurized milk restriction is an ABSOLUTE imperative to the treatment of autism. Anyone managing this illness without restricting milk is deceiving themselves. This includes all milk products, such as ice cream, yogurt and whey. Even natural flavorings in food must be avoided unless the processor can guarantee, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that caseinate is not included

6. Complete elimination of sugar, juice, soda, French fries and wheat (pasta, bagels, cereal, pretzels, etc) is also highly recommended 

7. Get proper sun exposure, as an additional theory that makes a whole lot of sense is the link between rampant vitamin D deficiency and the proportionate jump in autism. The vitamin D receptor appears in a wide variety of brain tissue early in the fetal development, and activated vitamin D receptors increase nerve growth in your brain  

8. Use an effective intervention to address any emotional stresses as soon as possible – avoid having destructive thoughts and emotions fester. Potent energy psychology tools such as the Emotional Freedom Technique are excellent for this purpose

9. Secretin has proven effective in relieving certain symptoms of autism. It is a powerful hormone, which has the ability to reduce intestinal permeability (leaky gut). I have even observed one three-year-old who had no speech prior to secretin speak in full paragraphs just days after the infusion

10.  Homeopathy may also help ameliorate symptoms