Notes from Day 3 of the Autism Research Institute Conference

Opiate peptides are released from gluten & casein by enzymes in GI tract and regulate cysteine uptake (inhibit the uptake) -- Decreased cysteine uptake causes decreased antioxidant capacity and leads to increased GI inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and Autism
4/30/11
One reason some children benefit from low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is that this opiate antagonist blocks inhibition of cysteine uptake by morphine & gluten/casein-derived opiate peptides

Greater increase in cysteine uptake with human milk than with formula

Study showing milk-free diet down regulates folate receptor autoimmunity in cerebral folate deficiency syndrome

Colostrinin is a sheep colostrum that has been shown to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients

Ecogenetics = study of environmental factors that interact with genes to cause health & disease.  Ecogenetic adaptation is occurring among Somali residents in Minnesota
--- < 1:1000 Somali children with ASD in 1993 (before immigration to Minneapolis, MN in mid-to-late 90's)
--- 1:60 Somali-American school children with ASD in 2005
--- 0.17% of Caucasian, Hispanic, and African-American children in ASD programs in 2005; 0.28% in 2008
--- 1-1.5% of first generation school age Somali-Americans enrolled in ASD programs - peaked in 2005; 0.9% in 2008.
(Information is from the Minnesota department of health, 2009)

80% of people in US with ASD are less than 22 years old
(Information from the Autism Research Institute, 2011)