Is autism a member of a family of diseases resulting from genetic/cultural

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Is autism a member of a family of diseases resulting from genetic/cultural

mismatches? Implications for treatment and prevention

Staci D. Bilbo a P. b, and

pdf:

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aurt/aip/910946/

Several lines of evidence support the view that autism is a typical member

of a large family of immune-related, non-infectious, chronic diseases

associated with post-industrial society. This family of diseases includes a

wide range of inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune diseases, and results

from consequences of genetic/culture mismatches which profoundly destabilize

the immune system. Principle among these consequences is depletion of

important components, particularly helminths, from the ecosystem of the

human body, the human biome. Autism shares a wide range of features in

common with this family of diseases, including the contribution of

genetics/epigenetics, the identification of disease-inducing triggers, the

apparent role of immunity in pathogenesis, high prevalence, complex

etiologies and manifestations, and potentially some aspects of epidemiology.

Fortunately, using available resources and technology, modern medicine has

the potential to effectively reconstitute the human biome, thus treating or

even avoiding altogether the consequences of genetic/cultural mismatches

which underpin this entire family of disease. Thus, if indeed autism is an

epidemic of post-industrial society associated with immune hypersensitivity,

we can expect that the disease is readily preventable.

Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Systems & Integrative Neuroscience

Group, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710

Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center,

Durham, NC 27710

Correspondence: , Ph.D.

Duke University Medical Center

Box 2605

Department of Surgery

Durham, NC 27710

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E-mail: bparker@...