Link between Aluminium & Autism?

A recent published study led by Professor Christopher Exley at Keele University examined brain samples from patients with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who had died and compared them to samples from individuals without an ASD diagnosis. They measured how much aluminium was in the samples and used fluorescence techniques to identify where the aluminium was in the samples. Professor Exley is quoted as saying that he was surprised at the “extraordinarily high” levels of aluminium in the ASD affected samples.

On the microscopy studies they were able to see lymph and blood cells carrying aluminium from the rest of the body to the brain. The conclusion was that aluminium is implicated in the aetiology of ASD.

You can read the paper here: Aluminium & Autism and watch an interview with Professor Exley here: YouTube Interview

Environmental and Functional Medicine practitioners have maintained for some years now that there is a link between toxins, including heavy metals such as aluminium, and the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

There is known to be genetic susceptibility to ASD which is likened to loading a gun but it is environmental factors such as metal and chemical toxicity, food sensitivities, gut infections (dysbiosis) and nutritional deficiencies which “pull the trigger” for its development. One or more of these factors may be implicated in the development of ASD.

These are all environmental issues which we deal with in a variety of conditions including ASD.