Could a Tiny Worm Help Treat Autism?
By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with autism who were intentionally infected with a parasitic intestinal worm experienced an improvement in their behavior, researchers say.
After swallowing whipworm eggs for 12 weeks, people with autism became more adaptable and less likely to engage in repetitive actions, said study lead author Dr. Eric Hollander, director of the Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.
"We found these individuals had less discomfort associated with a deviation in their expectations," Hollander said. "They were less likely to have a temper tantrum or act out."
The whipworm study is one of two novel projects Hollander is scheduled to present Thursday at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Hollywood, Fla.
The other therapy -- hot baths for children with autism -- also was found to improve symptoms, Hollander said.
Inflammation caused by a hyperactive immune system, which is suspected to contribute to autism, is the link between the two unusual but potentially effective treatments.
Researchers believe the presence of the worms can prompt the body to better regulate its immune response, which reduces the person's inflammation levels, Hollander said.
Meanwhile, hot baths can fool the body into thinking it's running a fever, prompting the release of protective anti-inflammatory signals, he believes.
Autism is estimated to affect one in 50 school-aged children in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with the developmental disorder have impaired social and communication skills.
Rob Ring, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, said such outside-the-box treatments may seem unusual but can provide important lessons.
"My own general mantra is to be agnostic about where new ideas come from, but religious about data," Ring said. "It's important for the field of autism to develop new approaches."
The whipworm study involved 10 high-functioning adults with autism who ate whipworm eggs for 12 weeks, ingesting about 2,500 eggs every two weeks. They also spent another 12 weeks on an inactive placebomedication.
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- Adults with autism who were intentionally infected with a parasitic intestinal worm experienced an improvement in their behavior, researchers say.
After swallowing whipworm eggs for 12 weeks, people with autism became more adaptable and less likely to engage in repetitive actions, said study lead author Dr. Eric Hollander, director of the Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.
"We found these individuals had less discomfort associated with a deviation in their expectations," Hollander said. "They were less likely to have a temper tantrum or act out."
The whipworm study is one of two novel projects Hollander is scheduled to present Thursday at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Hollywood, Fla.
The other therapy -- hot baths for children with autism -- also was found to improve symptoms, Hollander said.
Inflammation caused by a hyperactive immune system, which is suspected to contribute to autism, is the link between the two unusual but potentially effective treatments.
Researchers believe the presence of the worms can prompt the body to better regulate its immune response, which reduces the person's inflammation levels, Hollander said.
Meanwhile, hot baths can fool the body into thinking it's running a fever, prompting the release of protective anti-inflammatory signals, he believes.
Autism is estimated to affect one in 50 school-aged children in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with the developmental disorder have impaired social and communication skills.
Rob Ring, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, said such outside-the-box treatments may seem unusual but can provide important lessons.
"My own general mantra is to be agnostic about where new ideas come from, but religious about data," Ring said. "It's important for the field of autism to develop new approaches."
The whipworm study involved 10 high-functioning adults with autism who ate whipworm eggs for 12 weeks, ingesting about 2,500 eggs every two weeks. They also spent another 12 weeks on an inactive placebomedication.
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