SOMETHING concerning is happening to our children, as has been repeatedly communicated in TCW this last month. An increasing number are experiencing psychological, behavioural and physiological challenges, often diagnosed as autism. They range from reduced eye contact and language delays to social difficulties, cognitive struggles, emotional meltdowns, aggression, and, in some cases, depression. What is driving this surge?
While mainstream medicine largely attributes autism to genetics, explaining the rise as improved diagnostic recognition, a growing body of independent researchers and clinicians in the US and UK suggests otherwise. The rapid increase in cases across multiple countries cannot be solely explained by genetics, as genes do not change so quickly, nor can it by more vigilant diagnosis.
In the US, autism rates have skyrocketed over 50 years, from 2 in 10,000 to 1 in 36. In the UK, official government data estimates 1 in 62 children are classified as autistic, an eightfold increase in 20 years. Meanwhile, school census data from Scotland and Northern Ireland report even higher rates, with 1 in 20 children diagnosed, affecting one in 14 boys in Scotland. These numbers strongly indicate that environmental factors, including diet, play a key role. This also suggests that proactive steps could help reduce risk.
The US National Institutes of Health have launched, as a priority, a new research program to study what causes autism and why autism diagnoses are on the rise, as reported earlier this month on TCW. In the UK, the independent mental health charity Food for the Brain has invited world experts to a ‘Smart Kids’ conference to explore not only what is driving neurodivergence, including autism and ADHD, but also what diet, lifestyle and access to social media provides the optimal environment for children and teens, including the impact of pre-conceptual nutrition on neurodevelopment of children.
New research is showing promising results. Dr Chris D’Adamo, Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Director of the Centre for Integrative Medicine, has been at the forefront of research into environmental influences on autism. His recent paper, published in Personalized Medicine, estimates a 300 per cent rise in autism cases since 2000. The paper documents a case where early intervention reversed autism symptoms by addressing modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors.
It involved twin toddler girls exhibiting classic autistic traits – limited communication, repetitive behaviours, resistance to change, and severe gastrointestinal issues. Under a comprehensive program led by a team of physicians, tailored interventions focused on diet, environment and lifestyle were implemented. The results were striking. Within months, both girls showed dramatic improvements. Their autism severity scores dropped significantly, with one twin’s score reducing from 76 to 32 and the other from 43 to just 4.
In the UK, Dr Lorene Amet, a functional nutritionist and founder of The Lauriston Centre, has been applying similar integrative approaches. She has worked with hundreds of families, with remarkable success.
A survey conducted by the charity Thinking Autism in 2014, involving similar dietary guidance was written up into a report by academics at Queen Mary, University of London in 2016. It found that, out of 237 families who reported using various dietary interventions with their children with autism, 170 families reported either ‘life-changing’ or ‘significant’ improvements, while only 12 children saw no noticeable change.
Yet, despite such promising results, the NHS maintains that autism has no cure and advises against interventions such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary modifications. The NICE guidelines currently offer no targeted nutritional strategies for autism management, leaving many parents with limited options.
Can autism risk be reduced before birth? Another key consideration is prevention, reducing the likelihood of autism before birth. Research led by Associate Professor Michelle Murphy of the Universitat Rovira I Virgili in Spain has revealed a crucial link between B-vitamin deficiencies in early pregnancy and a child’s likelihood of developing autism-related traits. Her studies show that children of mothers who were low in B vitamins before conception were significantly more likely to display withdrawn behaviour, anxiety, depression, or aggression by age six.
The connection between maternal nutrition and neurological development is well established. For decades, pregnant women have been advised to take folic acid to prevent neural tube defects – a policy delayed by 25 years, resulting in hundreds of thousands of avoidable birth defects. Children with autism are six times more likely to have neural tube defects, further linking B-vitamin deficiencies to neurodevelopmental issues.
This aligns with earlier research from Oxford University’s Professor David Smith. His work demonstrated that B vitamins lower homocysteine, a toxic amino acid linked to autism, depression, and cognitive impairments in children, as well as Alzheimer’s in adults. Professor Murphy’s research further suggests that even mildly elevated homocysteine levels, driven by lack of vitamins B12 and folate before pregnancy, strongly predict neurodivergent traits in children. This underscores the importance of nutritional screening and intervention before conception.
Recent EU research that nine in ten obese women fail to achieve basic guidelines for folic acid supplementation in early and pre-pregnancy, which would help to prevent such tragic neurodevelopmental problems. A study of 3,000 EU children reported that the median level for serum B12 was below that required for optimal brain development (above 500pg/ml) and one third were below half of this requirement (200pg/ml). This suggests that at least half of the children have insufficient intake of these two vital B vitamins for optimal brain development. Deficiency is more prevalent in vegan children.
So what can parents do? To support further research and empower families, the charity Food for the Brain is inviting parents to take part in a free online assessment of their child’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioural function, alongside a diet and lifestyle questionnaire to help optimize brain health. Parents can also access a home test kit for homocysteine levels, providing valuable insight into potential nutritional deficiencies that may affect brain function.
As Dr Rona Tutt, OBE, a trustee of Food for the Brain and past President of the National Association of Head Teachers, says: ‘People come in assorted shapes and sizes, with brains that are unique. A significant minority who are neurodivergent need to be recognized, valued, and supported to maximize their strengths and overcome their challenges. Understanding the factors driving the rise in neurodivergence is key to ensuring the best outcomes for future generations.’
To explore all the various factors, Food for the Brain hosted an online ‘Smart Kids’ conference on April 24. It brought together leading experts to examine ways to prevent and potentially mitigate the impact of autism through environmental and nutritional interventions.
For more information on this conferenceandon free assessments, visit foodforthebrain.org/smartkids.
