The autism spectrum encompasses a wide range of neurodevelopmental conditions, which includes autism and Asperger syndrome, and is generally referred to as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Individuals on the autistic spectrum experience problems with social interaction and communication as well as exhibit repetitive, restricted patterns of behavior, activities, or interests.
Each year, researchers around the worldwide scientific community publish their theories and evidence pointing to the causes of autism; however, very little concrete evidence exists that helps in understanding how autism develops. This is why emerging proof of links between this group of neurodevelopmental disorders and environmental conditions such as toxic mold exposure is so valuable. The data helps to complete the complex equation that results in ASD.
Still, the latest studies from the last 10 years that sought to prove the correlation between indoor toxic mold exposure and autism and ASD did not come close to proving or explaining a causal relationship between the two. At best, the studies have shown that the former tends to accompany the latter with remarkable frequency. The studies have not been conclusive. However, experience tells us that a single breakthrough may lead to even greater discoveries when scientists persistently pursue the issues.
What is autism?
ASD is a number of complex neurodevelopmental disorders that impact verbal and nonverbal communication. It includes difficulties adapting and tendencies towards repetitive behaviors. It is generally accepted that ASD has origins in the brain’s earliest stages of development. In addition to classic autism, ASD is related to conditions such as childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome, Asperger’s, and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Typically, children present with symptoms between 12 and 18 months or age, although some children on the spectrum may display normal development well into their two’s.
This is also the latest point in development in which children with autism regress by losing some skills that had previously formed. Then autism and ASD become associated with difficult attention spans and motor coordination, intellectual disabilities, and physical health disturbances like poor sleep and gastrointestinal issues. However, many individuals with ASD can have deep proficiency in math, music, art, and visual skills.
What is mold toxicity syndrome (MTS)?
Medical and mold remediation professionals know that MTS is also called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Water-Damaged Buildings (CIRS-WDB). This condition inhibits the process by which individuals clear mold toxins from their systems. These toxins may be found inside buildings that have had significant water damage leading to the growth of mold. If mycotoxins produced by the mold remain in the body rather than being addressed by binding micro-agents, the mycotoxins can lodge themselves inside tissue and cells. This can result in significant neurological damage. It is absolutely crucial to eliminate the exposure to mold contaminants, so the body does not continue to be invaded by these damaging toxins.
How are mold mycotoxins and the autism spectrum linked?
With each new study, the link between toxic mold exposure and at least one environmental market that can trigger ASD becomes more apparent. Several researchers made a valuable, insightful non-scientific observation during an informal study that compared neuropsy-chological abnormalities displayed by eight boys confirmed for autism-spectrum disorders to a separate group of six with documented histories of both autism-spectrum disorders and varying degrees of mold toxin exposure. Compared to the average 6.8 abnormalities displayed by the eight boys with no previous mold-exposure history, the second group averages 12.2 abnormalities between them.
Five years after that astute observation, a 2014 Harvard School of Public Health study concluded that children who were exposed in utero to high levels of particulate air pollution had approximately double the risk of autism. This included exposure to mold mycotoxins, and the link was particularly pronounced during the third trimester. The researchers reported no significantly elevated risk of autism if the child was exposed after birth or if the mother was exposed prior to conception.
Autism Speaks funded another project that expanded the research and number of subjects. They investigated the histories of 116,000 subjects that participated in the Nurses’ Health Study II that was across all 50 states. With the expanded study, the researchers pointed to pollution exposure before, during, and after pregnancy.
Michael Rosanoff, epidemiologist and associate director for public health at Autism Speaks, noted that no previous research confirmed conclusively that a mother who is exposed to pollutants during her pregnancy will have a child who develops autism. In addition, there is no way to conclusively show that a child with autism was exposed in utero to mycotoxins.
“We know autism is a complex disorder and underlying genetic and biological factors interact to influence susceptibility,” Rosanoff said. “The next step is to identify the biological mechanisms that connect air pollution to autism and identify ways to treat if not prevent the harm to brain development.”
The most important point to make is that mold toxicity may be one of the most treatable suspected triggers for autism. The degree of damage may be mitigated depending on how quickly the mycotoxins are treated with proper medications. Early treatment is key to mitigating risks associated with exposure to mycotoxins, making it very critical that women trying to get pregnant seek appropriate consultations with medical professionals who have experience with treating MTS.