51–60 of 84 posts
The study implies antibiotics but I don't see that data. Am I missing it? There is discussion of data connecting future diagnosis with early antibiotics, but nothing that clearly shows that is causal. I think there is a discussion to be had about the possibility that ADHD and autism increase the risk of other conditions that may then require more antibiotics. I'd like to see a more detailed study trying to tease corr…
I've been as willing as anybody to believe theories (long commonplace among alt-med communities) like "it's antibiotics", "it's candida yeast" (or insert any other bacterial/fungus/parasite/virus species you can point to), "it's the effect of vaccines on the microbiome", "it's due to microbial dysbiosis in utero".
And after nearly 20 years of researching/contemplating/experimenting, I just find myself thinking "there's no singular, simple explanation or solution". And really, nor should there be; the body is a highly complex system.
Microbiome matters – but there's plenty of stuff you can do to improve it. Metals (mercury, lead, etc) and other environmental toxins (PFAS and other endocrine disruptors [1]) matter – but they can be detoxified over time via some fairly safe and non-invasive techniques. Inflammation matters a lot – and all kinds of things to do with diet, allergens, microbiome influence that. Genetics matter – but probably less than we presume, once all the other factors are considered and addressed (and it's probably more a case of genetic expression in response to stressors, rather than anything hard-coded/deterministic).
A big perspective-shift for me was finding that emotions and trauma matter a huge amount. This is the least-researched and discussed, both in mainstream and the alt-med circles, but in my own experience, nothing has made a bigger difference to my life outcomes (including physiological symptoms like inflammation) than regularly practicing techniques that identify and release deeply-held emotional complexes.
It can seem like an implausible, fringe theory until you think about it this way: if a person is perpetually traumatised, they can be in a "fight/flight/freeze" state, which takes up much of the body's energy and resources, instead of that being directed to healthy immunity (dealing with harmful microbes and allergens), digestion, metabolism, detoxification, tissue repair/growth etc.
And just to confound things even further, having to deal with an unhealthy microbiome in utero or early life can be a cause of trauma (just as it can be in later life when an infection like Epstein Barr can lead to CFS/ME).
I know this all seems very nebulous and speculative; it's taken me a long time to get my head around, but my takeaway after all this time is that to correct these kinds of conditions, these factors all need to be addressed in parallel: emotions, microbiome, toxicity, diet/nutrition.
I'm quite sure there will be no complete understanding and remedy for conditions like ASD and ADHD that doesn't incorporate all these factors.
[1] https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2022/07/what-are-endo...
The antibiotic link is really alarming. Growing up in a country where antibiotics are basically prescribed for any illness, my mom refused to administer it to us unless there was an emergency. Clearly she had some foresight. I find it a tough choice for my own kids. For example, if they have an ear infection, you could try waiting it out, and sometimes they can get better on their own, but it's riskier and might be l…
I'm having a hard time believing in the antibiotic link. I've spent quite a bit of time in various parts of South America where antibiotics are available without prescription and from what I've seen, used for every fever and sniffle for 40 years+ now. I'm not seeing generations of Autistic and ADHD people there. If the antibiotic link was true, wouldn't it be worse there?
As someone from an autistic family, at least in our case it's definitely genetic.
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The more I come across articles like this (yes: I know it’s talking about early life) the more I start to wonder if the problems I’ve struggled with in the past and to a somewhat lesser extent now (anxiety, with quite severe physical symptoms) are caused by/can at least be alleviated by a change in gut flora. I have this weird feeling (based on some recurring experience) that anxiety and digestion are somehow deeply…
I don’t know how much is microbiome or micronutrients or general diet or what, but yes, as guided by my doctors, I’ve made a few adjustments to supplements and foods that made a huge difference in anxiety and depression. Some of the adjustments I was told affect microbiome but I don’t know why / how. All of that said, for an anxiety attack there’s nothing like meds, in my experience, to put a lid on it real quick.
The antibiotic link is really alarming. Growing up in a country where antibiotics are basically prescribed for any illness, my mom refused to administer it to us unless there was an emergency. Clearly she had some foresight. I find it a tough choice for my own kids. For example, if they have an ear infection, you could try waiting it out, and sometimes they can get better on their own, but it's riskier and might be l…
I'm having a hard time believing in the antibiotic link. I've spent quite a bit of time in various parts of South America where antibiotics are available without prescription and from what I've seen, used for every fever and sniffle for 40 years+ now. I'm not seeing generations of Autistic and ADHD people there. If the antibiotic link was true, wouldn't it be worse there?
Whereas some Western countries might have a sterile-ness + formula + meds + other environmental factors that form the perfect storm. Edit: I'm not saying it causes x or y. Just that it is not ideal for a young kid.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm having a hard time believing in the antibiotic link. I've spent quite a bit of time in various parts of South America where antibiotics are available without prescription and from what I've seen, used for every fever and sniffle for 40 years+ now. I'm not seeing generations of Autistic and ADHD people there. If the antibiotic link was true, wouldn't it be worse there?
I dont have any proof either way, but you're assuming it's the only factor. It could be a mix of antibiotic and diet, or antibiotic and lack of exposure to other germs.
The antibiotic link is really alarming. Growing up in a country where antibiotics are basically prescribed for any illness, my mom refused to administer it to us unless there was an emergency. Clearly she had some foresight. I find it a tough choice for my own kids. For example, if they have an ear infection, you could try waiting it out, and sometimes they can get better on their own, but it's riskier and might be l…
I'm having a hard time believing in the antibiotic link. I've spent quite a bit of time in various parts of South America where antibiotics are available without prescription and from what I've seen, used for every fever and sniffle for 40 years+ now. I'm not seeing generations of Autistic and ADHD people there. If the antibiotic link was true, wouldn't it be worse there?
The more I come across articles like this (yes: I know it’s talking about early life) the more I start to wonder if the problems I’ve struggled with in the past and to a somewhat lesser extent now (anxiety, with quite severe physical symptoms) are caused by/can at least be alleviated by a change in gut flora. I have this weird feeling (based on some recurring experience) that anxiety and digestion are somehow deeply…
carnivore diet solved my anxiety, but I'm stuck now, I'm able to work a job, but when something traumatic happens I'm still anxious, not as much though.
been collecting for a while, hope it helps. https://github.com/cutestuff/FoodDepressionConundrum
For the gut in general it seems to be helping to take glucosamine, magnesium and something else, I forgot just now.