Correlation does not equal causation. We hear that often in medicine. For example, we know there are correlations between maternal illness during pregnancy and autism. We know that these two conditions, maternal illness and infant autism, travel together, but we don’t have a mechanism of action to prove that the former causes the latter. We…
The hunt for autism’s trigger continues. The reason for its long continuance likely lies in that it is not one homogenous disease, but a mixture of different triggers culminating in a similar pattern of brain dysfunction and life disruption. The role of the immune system probably runs second only to genetics in terms of research…
Many parents come to our doors seeking help for their child whom they suspect has PANS or PANDAS. These parents have either heard of the possibility from their doctor or come to suspect it after some reading online or in a parenting group. Others have never heard of these acronyms but just know that something…
With the growing epidemic of autism spectrum disorder in children, countless researchers are searching for the genes and pathways which lead to what we call autism. This paper describes how two proteins, Cullin 3 and Plastin 3 contribute to the failure of certain brain cells to find their destination in brain development. In the mouse…
While individual studies have given inconsistent results, the meta-analysis big picture suggests that air pollution plays a role in the increasing rates of childhood high blood pressure. With high blood pressure considered as one of the top ten contributors to global disease (1) public health went looking for answers, as these children with high blood…
Questions abound concerning who is at risk for COVID 19 infection including whether children or the immune compromised of our society are at higher risk. With time, we have learned that the elderly and those with metabolic diseases like hypertension and diabetes are at higher risk. In contrast, children seem to be relatively spared from…
While athletes repeat the mantra, “no pain, no gain”, to themselves at the gym, when it comes to pregnancy, stress is a bad thing. Our Christian heritage leads us to protect pregnant women from a variety of harms. Science offers another reason to do so with this research out of the Massachusetts General Hospital. They…
Did you know that scientists really enjoy reviewing literature? Okay, so its not poetry or love stories, but scientists at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute reviewed medical literature regarding pediatric concussions to find a link with children’s future mental health. With the growing number of children with mental health diagnoses, researchers have embarked on a quest…
Probiotics receive a lot of attention these days as we have begun to better understand the role of the microbiome within our digestive tract. Besides the benefits promoted in the functional medicine world, the world of the neonatal intensive care unit also finds probiotics beneficial to their patients. As science has advanced its ability to…
Many skeptics challenge functional MD’s like myself when we diagnose mold toxicity as the explanation for a chronic illness whether in adults or in children. The refrain goes like this: “Mold is everywhere! How could that explain the symptoms?” We understand that patients or their parents desire proof and certainty before embarking on a treatment…