Is Autism Connected with Metopic Craniosynostosis?
Our child James was a completely normal boy until 13 months of age. Normal laughter, looking in our eyes, playful sharing, and able to interact and play with toys in a normal way as well as incorporate people. We believe that the intracranial pressure from his Metopic Craniosynostosis was the main cause of what is now an Autistic personality. The symptoms have been steadily decreasing since the operation and we are hopeful that with more therapy he will be able to completely re-adjust to a normal life.
Autism has not been directly linked with Metopic Craniosynostosis but the symptoms of Autistic-like behavior have been correlated with brain intracranial pressure. After surgery, the pressure is released and symptoms usually improve if the damage is reversible with brain expansion and development.
Of note is that many kids with Craniosynostosis especially of the metopic kind, are also Autistic in a higher percentage than normal children. This is not well understood and it is the focus of more studies on the subject.
Some genetic mutations in the MECP2 gene and Hoxa1 genotype have now been associated to have a role in both a specific subtype of Autism and Mild Trigonocephally. This may prove to be the link between the skull shape and the Autistic behavior that has been hypothesized for a decade.
Articles Linking Autism and Craniosynostosis:
Are Autism and Craniosynostosis Associated? Article by Kate Miller-Wilson
Are autism and single-suture craniosynostosis related?
Minor form of trigonocephaly is an autistic skull shape? MECP2 mutation
New Research Suggests Autism Linked to Imbalances in Gut Flora:
Cutting edge research now links Autism to bacterial flora imbalances in Autistic persons compared to normal non Autistic. Neurotransmitters and other compounds in the brain require a healthy balanced flora to work adequately. The new studies have replaced the Autistic person’s Flora with non affected Flora from healthy individuals either by having bacterial drinks or fecal transplants after a Vancomycin drip and colorectal wash flush procedure to completely eliminate the flora bacterium in Autistic children. After bacteria replacement, children with Autism show a nearly 50% decline in Autistic symptoms and behaviors two years later with lasting effects and in some cases have recovered the ability to speak or completely remove Autism from their personalities.
This is ongoing research but we are giving probiotics to stabilize our son James’s flora containing Bifidobacterium. We have seen remarkable changes in concentration and mood when he is on a Probiotic assisted diet.
Could the gut microbiome be linked to autism? Nature-
Autism’s Gut Connection: Microbes Could Soon Lead to New Treatments – Discover Magazine!