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OXIDATIVE STRESS,
UNDERMETHYLATION,
AND EPIGENETICS −
William Walsh, PhD is the
president of the Walsh Research
THE BERMUDA
TRIANGLE OF AUTISM
Institute in Naperville, Illinois.
Dr. Walsh received his PhD in
chemical engineering and is an
internationally recognized expert
on biochemical imbalances. An
early collaboration with Carl Pfeiffer,
MD, PhD, led to advanced nutrient
protocols for normalizing body
The bottom line is that autism is treatable and recovery is possible.
chemistry and brain chemistry
in the 1980s. This work led to
establishment of the Health By William J. Walsh, PhD
Research Institute and Pfeiffer
Treatment Center in Illinois in the
1980s. Dr. Walsh is the director
of an international program for
INTRODUCTION dismal verdict and have engaged in promising
training physicians in advanced Over the past 50 years, autism has transformed exploratory treatments, based on available
nutrient therapy for behavior from a rare childhood disorder to a major scientific evidence.
disorders, mental illness, and epidemic impacting one in every 110 children In my experience with 6,500 children on
autism. In 1999, he was the first to
discover that undermethylation
in the United States, according to the Centers the autism spectrum, thousands of families
is a distinctive feature of autism for Disease Control. Fifty years ago, most school have reported exciting improvements, with
spectrum disorders. His recent teachers experienced one or two autism cases hundreds reporting complete recovery. Many
autism research includes chemical in their entire career. Today, teachers learn of of my medical colleagues have achieved similar
analysis of autism brain tissues,
abnormalities in hormone
new cases each month. For several decades, the successes. The bottom line is that autism is
chemistry, studies focusing on increasing numbers were attributed to better treatable and recovery is possible.
oxidative damage and oxidative efficiency of diagnosis. However, this cannot Some of the mysteries of autism have been
stress, and the role of epigenetics. explain the continuing sharp increases from resolved by new research. For example, it
He is the author of a new book
titled Nutrient Power.
1990 forward, during which time the syndrome is now clear that high oxidative stress and
of autism has become well-known throughout undermethylation are distinctive features of
the medical field. this disorder. In addition the emerging science
Until 1960, most autism cases involved clear of epigenetics is providing insights into the
symptoms at birth. During ensuing decades, underlying causes of autism.
however, regressive autism rates gradually
increased and now represent about 80% of ALTERED BIOCHEMISTRY IN AUTISM
cases. The reason for increased prevalence of Autistic children exhibit distinctive chemical
regressive autism is considered by many to be imbalances not present in the general
unknown. In typical regressive cases, children population. By 1999, I had collected 50,000
develop normally until age 16-22 months and chemical assays of blood and urine for
then a fairly sudden and shocking decline in autistic children and was invited by Dr.
functionality occurs. Typical cases involve loss Bernard Rimland to present the findings at
of speech, a divergent gaze, odd repetitive a think tank in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The
movements, disinterest in parents and siblings, assembled audience of autism researchers
and emotional meltdowns. Most parents are and clinicians was familiar with my findings
horrified upon receiving a diagnosis of autism of: (a) zinc deficiency; (b) copper overload; (c)
and being told the condition is incurable B-6 deficiency; and (d) elevated toxic metals.
and will lead to a lifetime of severe handicap. However, the group expressed great surprise
This scenario is still common in mainstream at data indicating that more than 90% of
medicine, with many families advised to autistics were undermethylated. Subsequent
institutionalize their child. Fortunately, many research by Dr. S. Jill James, Dr. Richard Deth,
doctors and families have refused to accept this and others has shown that undermethylation
30 • THE AUTISM FILE USA 35 2010 www.autismfile.com
biomedical
is a distinctive feature of autism. By 2010, a brain cells in the cerebellum, pineal gland,
wealth of biochemical information has been hippocampus, and amygdala of autistics,
collected by autism researchers throughout the but not in other brain locations. These are
Researchers
world. Table 1 lists biochemical abnormalities areas with little or no protection from the have reported an
found in autism spectrum disorders. All of these blood-brain barrier, suggesting that chemical
imbalances are associated with oxidative stress. insults or excessive oxidative stress may have excessive number of
stunted brain development. The net result is
Table 1 an immature brain with reduced capability for
short, undeveloped
Biochemical Features of Autism learning, speech, and socialization. brain cells in the
(partial list) The brain area with the most pronounced
immaturity in autism is the cerebellum, which is cerebellum, pineal
Low glutathione (GSH) and cysteine responsible for smooth, controlled movements.
Undermethylation A majority of autistics exhibit odd repetitive
gland, hippocampus,
Elevated mercury, lead, and other movements, possibly due to an impaired and amygdala of
toxins cerebellum. Another affected brain area is the
Copper overload and insufficient amygdala, which enables a person to develop autistics, but not in
ceruloplasmin socialization skills. Deficits in socialization are a
Deficiency of zinc and selenium hallmark of autism, and an immature amygdala
other brain locations.
Elevated urine pyrroles may be part of the problem. The hippocampus These are areas with
Depressed metallothionein (MT) partners with Wernieke’s area and Broca’s
protein levels area in the development of speech. Mutism little or no protection
Elevated carboxyethylpyrroles and speech delay are common in autism and
a poorly functioning hippocampus may be
from the blood-brain
responsible. barrier, suggesting
AUTISM BRAINS ARE DIFFERENT Fortunately, the ability to develop immature
Researchers have identified differences in brain brain cells and new synapses continues that chemical
structure and organization in autistic persons. throughout life. This capability enables many
Harvard studies have shown that primitive paralyzed stroke victims to recover and also
insults or excessive
areas of autism brains are immature, having offers hope for autistic children. The speed oxidative stress may
failed to complete development of brain cells with which new brain cells and synapses are
and synaptic connections. This knowledge developed is extremely rapid until about age have stunted brain
suggests that therapies aimed at completion of three when a gradual slowing occurs. Clinicians
brain development may be a high priority. Dr. working with autistic children are aware of
development.
Manuel Casanova has reported abnormalities the critical need for early intervention. In my
in the cortex of autism brains, especially experience, greater progress can be achieved
narrowing of “minicolumn” arrays of cells. Dr. in one month with a 2-year-old, than in 6
Woody McGinnis and colleagues have reported months with an 8-year-old. Doctors and parents
threadlike accumulations of damaged fats in need to be aware that immediate action is
autism brains, indicating oxidative damage. essential once a diagnosis of autism has been
Dr. Eric Courchesne found that many autistic made in order to maximize benefits. However,
children experience a rapid acceleration in brain intervention can be beneficial at any age. For
size during the first year of life. Approximately example, a Connecticut mother told me that
25% of autistics have unusually large heads. her 17-year-old daughter began to speak after
All of these findings suggest that early 30 days of MT-Promotion therapy.
intervention is of critical importance, since brain Autism brains also appear to be afflicted
abnormalities that develop in the initial years with significant inflammation that may inhibit
may persist throughout life. The plasticity of brain development and cause a myriad of
brain cells and synapses is greatest in infancy symptoms including irritability, speech delay,
and early childhood, and exciting progress is sleep disorders, cognitive delay, and increased
possible during this window of time. head size. The sudden regression experienced
We all start life with billions of short, by many children may be caused by events that
dense brain cells that are immature. Brain result in brain inflammation.
development involves four basic phases: (1)
pruning of some brain cells to make space for BIOCHEMICAL THERAPIES
growth of other cells; (2) growth of neurons, Table 2 lists popular biochemical therapies that
axons, dendrites, and other cell components; have produced countless reports of significant
(3) growth inhibition once a brain cell is fully improvement in autism spectrum patients. It
mature; and (4) development of synaptic seems highly significant that most of these
connections. Researchers have reported an therapies produce an antioxidant effect. It’s
excessive number of short, undeveloped also interesting to note that Risperdal, the
www.autismfile.com THE AUTISM FILE USA 35 2010 • 31
biomedical
most popular psychiatric medication in autism to be cast in concrete at the moment of
treatment, has antioxidant properties. However, conception. We now know this is only partially
The it must be noted that Risperdal is a powerful true, and that a person’s chemical environment
environmental anti-psychotic medication that has never been can determine which genes are expressed
tested for safety in young children. and which are silenced. Epigenetics is a rapidly
triggers for autism All of the treatment systems listed below have growing field that investigates alterations in
acquired a cadre of enthusiastic supporters, gene expression that do not involve changes in
continue to be hotly but none of these have been adopted by DNA sequence. Methyl is a dominant chemical
debated, but there is mainstream medicine. factor in epigenetics, and nearly all autistics are
undermethylated. This suggests that autism may
general agreement Table 2 be predominantly epigenetic in origin rather
Popular Biochemical Therapies for than a result of genetic modifications (DNA
on one thing: the Autism (partial list) polymorphisms). This theory is supported by
recipe for autism the fact that epigenetic processes are far more
Methyl-B12 and other methylation sensitive to environmental insults than genetic
is a combination therapies processes.
Vitamins and minerals All cells in the human body contain an
of an inherited Transdermal glutathione identical copy of DNA with the potential
predisposition and Casein-free, gluten-free diet for producing many thousands of proteins.
Chelation (removal of toxic metals) However, the proteins expressed in liver cells are
severe environmental Metallothionein-Promotion therapy very different from those of skin cells, pancreas
N-Acetylcysteine and alpha-lipoic acid cells, etc. Epigenetics refers to differences in
insults prior to age Therapies to combat yeast overgrowth tissue environment that enable production of
three. Antibacterials and antifungals certain proteins while preventing formation of
Decoppering protocols others. Certain biochemicals have a powerful
Amino acid supplements role in determining which genes are expressed
Digestive enzymes or silenced and a balance between these
Secretin factors is essential for proper development after
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy conception.
DNA consists of billions of proteins that form
a double helix ribbon that is about 6 feet in
GENETICS, EPIGENETICS, & ENVIRONMENT length. Amazingly, this DNA is packed into
There is an undeniable hereditary component a tiny ball that is about one-hundredth of a
to autism, with about 60-90% concordance in millimeter in diameter and neatly fits inside the
identical twins, compared to less than 10% for nucleus of every cell. This fragile double helix
fraternal twins. Since concordance is less than is wrapped around tiny globs of protein called
100%, a significant environmental component “histones” in a configuration known as “beads
must exist. Many people ask, “How can on a string.” The acidic DNA tends to adhere
there be an epidemic of a genetic disorder?” to millions of histones that are alkaline. The
Spontaneous DNA abnormalities occur about histone-DNA beads are called “nucleosomes,”
once in every 500,000 cell divisions, and DNA and an array of nucleosomes is termed
mutations usually require centuries to develop. “chromatin.” Each nucleosome consists of eight
Consequently, the consensus belief is that the histone proteins, with “tails” that extend out of
increased rates of autism are due to changes its core as shown in Figure 1. The two primary
in the environment over the past 70 years. epigenetic processes are (a) direct methylation
More than two dozen environmental theories of DNA at cytosine residues; and (2) histone
have been suggested, including increased modification as illustrated in Figure 2. For years,
vaccinations, toxic metal exposures, changes scientists believed histones provided a support
in the water supply, industrial food processing, framework for the fragile DNA but didn’t have
…a changes in family dynamics, and more. The an active role in gene expression. Researchers
environmental triggers for autism continue recently established that genes can be turned
person’s chemical to be hotly debated, but there is general on or off depending on which chemicals react
environment can agreement on one thing: the recipe for autism with the histone tails. In many cases, the ability
is a combination of an inherited predisposition to express a specific gene (produce a protein)
determine which and severe environmental insults prior to age depends on a competition between methyl
three. and acetyl groups at histone tails. In general,
genes are expressed The emerging science of epigenetics is methylation tends to inhibit expression and
and which are providing a new and persuasive explanation acetylation promotes expression as shown
for increasing autism rates. Until recently, a in Figures 3 and 4. A total of 63 different
silenced. person’s genetic characteristics were thought core histone proteins have been identified,
32 • THE AUTISM FILE USA 35 2010 www.autismfile.com
biomedical
and a complex “histone code” is under
investigation. In summary, undermethylation is
a chemical imbalance that can alter epigenetic
bookmarking of hundreds of genes and may be
responsible for many aspects of autism.