The Autism–Diet Connection

If you listen to the so-called autism experts, they can’t even agree on whether the incidence of autism is increasing. More individuals are now being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, but some believe it’s because we are doing more screening and have become better at diagnosing the condition. The current consensus is that autism is likely increasing in incidence somewhat for unknown reasons.

One reason for this confusion is that autism is a “spectrum disorder”. A spectrum disorder is a medical condition with various components and elements that are loosely connected. The condition is often defined by grouping symptoms without a clear, identifiable underlying pathology. In the case of autism, no specific underlying pathology for the condition has been identified. If a spectrum disorder appears to be increasing, it can be due to various elements:

1. The true incidence of autism is increasing for unknown reasons.
2. Broadening the definition of autism is leading to more cases.
3. Increased screening for autism is leading to more cases.
4. An increase in secondary triggers could be in play to increase autism, for example, changing dietary elements.
5. Another completely different disease that tends to accelerate autism is increasing, fueling the autism fire.

Let’s review each scenario. Is the true incidence of autism increasing? The scientific studies haven’t convinced me that the incidence of autism is significantly growing. Because a diagnosis of autism is based on grouped symptoms that can shift over time, it’s tough to pin this issue down. What is clearly true is that autism is a significant health concern in all modern societies.

The definition of autism spectrum disorder has expanded somewhat over the years, and this is not usual for a spectrum-type disorder, where there is no test to prove a diagnosis. In recent years, screening has become more robust, so more individuals are ending up with the autism label. In the past, many of these individuals were likely missed or overlooked.

I do suspect that some secondary triggers of autism are likely increasing. Dietary elements are at the top of this list. At present, there is no evidence supporting the idea that nutritional elements are the cause of autism. Still, it appears that ultra-processed food can act as a secondary trigger of the disease. Those with autism who follow a healthy, whole foods diet generally do better than those who consume a lot of processed food.

In terms of another disease accelerating autism, I personally believe this is where the money is. In 2003, two Harvard Psychiatrists, James Harrison and Hudson Pope, published a study proposing that sixteen common brain disorders were part of the same disease process, which they termed Affective Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Because they never identified the pathology or triggers of their rather radical ASD concept, it never made it out of academic medicine and more or less died on the vine. Years later, I was able to resurrect the idea by measuring the body composition of thousands of patients in my medical practice. I was attempting to figure out why obesity was increasing at an epidemic rate.

I also had a strong interest in neuroscience and was a member of the Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI). Over time, I noticed a strange correlation between specific brain dysfunction symptoms and changes in body composition. The symptoms always seem to precede the changes in body composition, suggesting that when it comes to fat storage, your brain is driving the bus. The brain dysfunction symptoms I was tracking were many of the same symptoms found under Hudson and Pope’s ASD concept, so there’s no question I was dealing with an epidemic illness that was flying under the radar of the medical and scientific communities. Based on the pathology of the condition, I decided to rename this illness Carbohydrate Associated Reversible Brain syndrome or CARB syndrome.

Over the years, I was able to figure out the primary trigger of CARB syndrome—the long-term consumption of ultra-processed foods. These foods trigger glucose spikes that directly cause the excess release of monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, from brain neurons, overwhelming the brain’s reuptake recycling system. These neurotransmitters that couldn’t be recycled are taken up by the bloodstream and cleared by the kidneys. This eventually leads to depletion of these neurotransmitters, leading to the 22 symptoms of CARB syndrome, which closely overlap with the symptoms of affective spectrum disorder. That’s what makes me think CARB syndrome and ASD are, in reality, the same disorder. This is where it gets a bit complex. The ASD concept includes:

1. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
2. Dysthymic Disorder
3. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD
4. Bulimia Nervosa
5. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD
6. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD
7. Panic Disorder
8. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD
9. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD
10. Fibromyalgia
11. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS
12. Migraine
13. Cataplexy

Some of these conditions have been present since ancient times. Still, the majority are likely wholly or partially due to CARB syndrome pathology, which has only existed to any extent for the past 70 years or so. It’s interesting to note that all these symptoms reflect low levels of monoamine neurotransmitters. People with CARB syndrome also seem to store excess fat at virtually any caloric intake, explaining our current obesity epidemic. The number one symptom of this pathology is having intense cravings for sweet and starchy foods. If you have ever experienced such cravings, please pay careful attention to this concept.

The incidence of CARB syndrome has dramatically increased over the past 70 years to the point where most people living in modern cultures have at least some signs of the condition. What happens when you combine CARB syndrome and autism? As the above picture illustrates, you end up with a large group of individuals who have both conditions. Many of these individuals likely had subclinical autism until they were exposed to our modern diet, which was like throwing gas on a fire. Their subclinical autism suddenly blossomed into full-blown autism. Thus, in a sense, our modern diet is accelerating the rate of clinical autism, creating the large group in the yellow ellipse in the above picture. This suggests that autism is increasing due to the adverse effects of CARB syndrome on the brains of autistic individuals.

We currently don’t have an effective treatment for autism, but CARB syndrome is eminently preventable and reversible if you follow these seven principles:

1. Depleted levels of monoamine neurotransmitters cause the 22 symptoms of CARB syndrome.A key to treatment is to take a balanced neurotransmitter precursor product, such as CARB-22, to rebuild neurotransmitter levels and gradually relieve symptoms. The only precaution is to keep the dose low if you are taking any psychiatric medications.
2. Avoid consuming ultra-processed foods and opt for whole foods with minimal processing instead.
3. Exercise for 30-60 minutes at least five days per week. A combination of aerobic exercise and strength training is ideal.
4. Try to get a minimum of 7-9 hours of restful sleep every night.
5. Maintain healthy social relationships.
6. Alcohol is a neurotoxin, so the ideal dose is zero.
7. Suppress excess inflammation by consuming a variety of small fish and taking a high-quality omega-3 supplement to maintain an optimal AA/EPA ratio of 1:3. I also recommend supplementing with Fatty-15.

I suspect that if this approach were broadly adopted, the incidence and severity of autism cases would dramatically decline. The above measures are inexpensive, safe, and readily available, so what are we waiting for? I previously published a journal article outlining these same issues in 2013, yet to date, not much has changed. I think it’s time for us to tame the dual deadly dragons of autism and CARB syndrome. I welcome you to join me in this critical endeavor. As you likely know, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has promised to unravel the mystery of autism. If you know him, please send him a copy of this article and suggest that we have a discussion!