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Showing posts with label Autism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autism. Show all posts

Wednesday 20 March 2024

Monty in Montevideo and Recent Advances in Autism Research



It is nice to have a city named after you and Monty finally visited “his” city, Montevideo in Uruguay.

I suppose my city would be St Petersburg, which I have visited several times.

A really impressive city in Latin America is Buenos Aires; it has a very large central area with beautiful architecture. It enjoyed several decades of great wealth, the “golden age,” when the city was laid out. In 1930 there was a military coup and the party was over. It has been boom and bust ever since.

We visited what they call the Southern Cone of Latin America, which is made up of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. We went from Buenos Aires all the way down to Tierra del Fuego.

Santiago, the capital of Chile, looks to be booming. It has a small historic centre and everything else is new.

Montevideo was more what I expected, except for the graffiti everywhere which makes it look less safe than it likely is. Uruguay has many beautiful beaches, but until you get away from the vast River Plate estuary (Río de la Plata = river of silt) and to the Atlantic ocean the water is a dirty brown colour.  Monty would not go in the water.

Southern Chile and Argentina have some stunning scenery with volcanoes, mountains and glaciers.  It looks great, but it is no longer the cheap backpacker destination it once was.

 







 



Back to the Autism Research

The highlight from the recent research comes from The RIKEN institute in Japan. It does go some way to explaining why so many people with autism appear to have nothing in their genetic results to explain their condition.

Normally, when you have your state of the art whole genome screening (WGS) the geneticist who interprets the results is looking for mutations in one of the many hundreds of known “autism genes” and nowadays, hopefully, in the non-coding areas next to them. Whole exome screening (WES) just looks at the 2% of the genome that has the instructions for how to make each of your 22,000 genes. The other 98% includes things like promoters that increase activity of a specific gene.

Many people with autism appear to show no mutations that are relevant.

The Japanese have figured out one of the reasons why this is the case. There are other reasons.

Our genetic material is not stored on something like a long role of paper, which is like a two-dimensional object.  It is a three-dimensional twisted object all folded up. As a result, the DNA physically closest to each autism gene may not be the part expected. The Japanese use the term “topologically associating domain” (TAD) to define which zones of DNA are actually interacting with each other.

They found that de novo mutations in promoters heightened the risk of ASD only when the promoters were located in TADs that contained ASD-related genes. Because they are nearby and in the same TAD, these de novo mutations can affect the expression of ASD-related genes.

This means that geneticists now need to go back to school and learn about the TAD of each autism gene. Or else just replace the geneticist with an AI generated report.

 

Mutation butterfly effect: Study reveals how single change triggers autism gene network

Researchers in the RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) examined the genetics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by analyzing mutations in the genomes of individuals and their families. They discovered that a special kind of genetic mutation works differently from typical mutations in how it contributes to the condition. In essence, because of the three-dimensional structure of the genome, mutations are able to affect neighboring genes that are linked to ASD, thus explaining why ASD can occur even without direct mutations to ASD-related genes. This study appeared in the scientific journal Cell Genomics on January 26.

The researchers analyzed an extensive dataset of over 5,000 families, making this one of the world's largest genome-wide studies of ASD to date. They focused on TADs-;three-dimensional structures in the genome that allow interactions between different nearby genes and their regulatory elements. They found that de novo mutations in promoters heightened the risk of ASD only when the promoters were located in TADs that contained ASD-related genes. Because they are nearby and in the same TAD, these de novo mutations can affect the expression of ASD-related genes. In this way, the new study explains why mutations can increase the risk of ASD even when they aren't located in protein-coding regions or in the promotors that directly control the expression of ASD-related genes.

 

"Our most important discovery was that de novo mutations in promoter regions of TADs containing known ASD genes are associated with ASD risk, and this is likely mediated through interactions in the three-dimensional structure of the genome."  

Atsushi Takata at RIKEN CBS

 

 

Topologically associating domains define the impact of de novo promoter variants on autism spectrum disorder risk

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have demonstrated the roles of rare promoter de novo variants (DNVs). However, most promoter DNVs in ASD are not located immediately upstream of known ASD genes. In this study analyzing WGS data of 5,044 ASD probands, 4,095 unaffected siblings, and their parents, we show that promoter DNVs within topologically associating domains (TADs) containing ASD genes are significantly and specifically associated with ASD. An analysis considering TADs as functional units identified specific TADs enriched for promoter DNVs in ASD and indicated that common variants in these regions also confer ASD heritability. Experimental validation using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) showed that likely deleterious promoter DNVs in ASD can influence multiple genes within the same TAD, resulting in overall dysregulation of ASD-associated genes. These results highlight the importance of TADs and gene-regulatory mechanisms in better understanding the genetic architecture of ASD.

 

Bumetanide

 

I did come across a Chinese study with an eye-catching title:-

 

Can bumetanide be a miraculous medicine for autism spectrum disorder: Meta-analysis evidence from randomized controlled trials

 

Highlights

    • Bumetanide showed significant and large effects on the overall core symptoms of ASD.
    • Bumetanide’s efficacy on ASD is influenced by subjects’ age, dosage form, duration.
    • Results of RCTs on bumetanide in ASD are moderated by study designs, measurement tools

A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsyclNFO, Web of Science, Clinical Trials.gov, and references in reviews from the earliest available date to September 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified that evaluated the efficacy of bumetanide in improving overall core symptoms (OCS) of ASD. Therefore, nine studies with 1036 participants were included in the study.

Results

Bumetanide showed significant effects on OCS of ASD (WMD = 1.91, p = 0.006), particularly in sub-domains including relation to inanimate objects, adaption to environment changes, auditory response, near sensory responses, anxiety and hyperactivity. Moderating analysis indicated that a significant effect size of bumetanide on OCS of ASD was observed in specific subgroup, including 3–6 years old (WMD = 1.08, p = 0.008), the tablet (WMD = 2.80, p = 0.003), 3-month intervention (WMD = 2.54, p = 0.003), and the single-center studies (WMD = 2.80, p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Bumetanide has a large and significant impact on the OCS of ASD. Given the limited number and quality of included RCTs, future research should prioritize conducting large-scale trials focusing on sub-parameters or specific clinical features to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of bumetanide in subpopulations of children with ASD.

Meanwhile, Professor Ben Ari has written another paper on why the phase 3 trial failed and has also published a book.

 

Bumetanide to treat autism spectrum disorders: are complex administrative regulations fit to treat heterogeneous disorders?

Introduction:

Extensive experimental observations suggest that the regulation of ion fluxes and, notably, chloride are impacted in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The specific NKCC1 cotransporter inhibitor Bumetanide has been shown to attenuate electrophysiological and behavioral features of ASD in experimental models. Both pilot and phase 2 double-blind randomized independent trials have validated these effects with thousands of children treated successfully. Both brain imaging and eye tracking observations also validate these observations. However, final large phase 3 trials failed, with no significant differences between placebo and treated children.

Methods:

Here, I discuss the possible reasons for these failures and discuss the exclusive reliance on complex patent cooperation Treaty (PCT) regulations. Indeed, available data suggest that bumetanide responders could be identified by relying notably on EEG measures, suggesting that biological sub-populations of patients might benefit from the treatment.

Results:

These observations raise important debates on whether treating only a % of children with ASD is acceptable.

Discussion:

It is likely that in many disorders, the heterogeneity of the pathological event precludes a single general treatment for all, suggesting that trials centered on selective populations of responders might be essential for large clinical trials to succeed.

  Here is the new book:-

Treating Autism with Bumetanide

https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-1890-2/

In spite of its high incidence, extensive media coverage and major clinical burden to families, there is not a single approved European or American drug treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). The dominant genetic and psychiatric approaches to treat ASDs have various limitations, suggesting that a novel global approach to understand and treat ASDs is warranted. Based on the authors’ converged expertise on brain development, ASD treatment and brain imaging, this book provides a fresh view of the disorder which is validated by experimental imaging and large clinical trials, culminating in the first large phase 3 final pediatric trial (on 400 children in EU countries and the US) using a repositioning of a drug used for decades to treat hypertension and edema. The convergence of experimental and clinical data on this disorder is unprecedented, confirming the potential of the drug to be the first pediatric treatment of ASDs.

After explaining the mechanisms underlying ASDs, we describe specific cases of children who, after treatment, considerably improved their sociability and reduced their agitation. The book also discusses the skepticism that the authors met from the tenants of pure genetics and psychiatry, and why the abyssal poverty of information on developmental disorders has hampered progress in understanding and treating ASD.

 

Bumetanide dosage is key – “wonderful effects from increasing from 0.5mg to 1mg” 

One recuring feature I have noticed from bumetanide use in the United States is the low dosage often used, as if these doctors want to show the drug is ineffective.

A reader recently contacted me about his young son who responded to the low dose of 0.5mg, but his autism doctor would not increase the dose.  The parent took matters into his own hands and increased the dose and then wrote to tell me about the “wonderful effects.”

 

Diuresis has stopped, but restarts at a lower dose

In a minority of cases bumetanide causes no diuresis. The question is whether it can have any effect in the brain if it causes no diuresis. Has the drug been absorbed at all?

One reader contacted me to tell me that her son, who has responded well to bumetanide for several years, stopped experiencing any diuresis. Then she told me that when she reduces the dose the diuresis returns.

There are many possible explanations, but perhaps those people who find bumetanide causes no diuresis should try a lower dose and see what happens.

 

Vasopressin/Desmopressin

Much of the research into the hormone vasopressin comes from Stanford. They have published a string of papers over the years. I think they are definitely on to something, but they are taking their time and may never commercialize the result.  

The very recent one is:

Vasopressin deficiency: a hypothesized driver of both social impairment and fluid imbalance in autism spectrum disorder

 

For some reason there is no abstract. 

Thanks to our reader Seth, I have now added the link below that takes you directly to  Stanford's website, which holds the full text version of the paper. 

https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/parkerlab/documents/da035ad7-7c80-41bd-a9a6-ee03a8bcc58d.pdf


The same group previously published a paper showing that people with ASD have a reduced level of vasopressin in their spinal fluid. As you can see in the chart below the level of oxytocin was normal.

There have also been successful trials using intranasal vasopressin in humans.


Cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin and symptom severity in children with autism

 



Vasopressin and oxytocin are closely related hormones and possibly some interactions are not yet fully understood.

Both these hormones can be given via a nasal spray.

 

The Bumetanide-Vasopressin interaction

Under normal circumstances you would never combine vasopressin with a diuretic.

Vasopressin stops you peeing and that it is why it is given to some children who wet their bed at night.

Bumetanide is a fast-acting diuretic that causes you to pee a lot.

So if you gave a diuretic to an elderly overweight person to reduce their blood pressure, it would be mad to also prescribe vasopressin.  The drugs are therefore contraindicated.

In autism we do not actually want the diuretic effects of bumetanide. We just want its effects on the brain.

The social and emotional beneficial effects of vasopressin have already been established by the existing Stanford research.

The combined effects of bumetanide + intranasal vasopressin might then be a win-win. Less autism and without the diuresis.

I was contacted long ago by a father whose daughter was prescribed Desmopressin, a synthetic analog of vasopressin that is an approved drug, and her autism markedly improved.

The Stanford research in humans uses a nasal spray that they have compounded specially rather than the commercially available Desmopressin.

 

 



Friday 19 January 2024

Cerebral Folate Deficiency – increasing cerebral folate without increasing plasma/blood folate, via activating the reduced folate carrier (RFC)

 


Source: https://autism.fratnow.com/blog/folate-transport-systems-i-transmembrane-carriers/


Two readers of this blog have been telling me about the fundamental role of brain energy and metabolism in autism. Marco sent me a book called Brain Energy by a psychiatrist at the Harvard Medical School. He stumbled upon this subject when he encouraged a patient to lose weight using the ketogenic diet. As well as losing weight, the patient’s decades-long psychiatric disorders seemed to vanish. The author, Dr Palmer, now believes that many of his patients actually have metabolic disorders as the underlying basis of their psychiatric symptoms. 

Our reader Natasa is approaching with a similar idea, essentially that autism features a brain running on empty.

Today’s post is about increasing the level of folate within the brain, by targeting similar metabolic pathways to those that will boost “brain energy.”

Low levels of folate within the brain will cause varying degrees of neurological disorder.

There are three ways folate can cross into the brain.

1.     Folate receptor alpha (FRA)

2.     Proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT)

3.     Reduced folate carrier (RFC)

Autoantibodies to the FRA have been linked to neurodevelopmental diseases, particularly cerebral folate deficiency, schizophrenia and autism. Recent studies have shown that these neurodevelopmental disorders can be treated with folinic acid (leucovorin).

Dr Frye, Professor Ramaekers and others are targeting the problem of low folate in the brain by supercharging the level of folate in the bloodstream and hoping more squeezes through the blood brain barrier.

In my previous post I mentioned that Agnieszka has pointed out the idea of using the supplement PQQ. This targets the third transport mechanism above, it is aiming to get more folate across via  the Reduced Folate Carrier (RFC).

Somebody recently wrote their PhD thesis on exactly this topic:- 

Regulation of Folate Transport at the Blood-Brain Barrier: A Novel Strategy for the Treatment of Childhood Neurological Disorders Associated with Cerebral Folate Deficiency

Camille Alam, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto 

Additionally, we provided in vitro and in vivo evidence that RFC expression and transport activity is inducible by another transcription factor, NRF-1. These findings demonstrate that augmenting RFC functional expression through interaction with specific transcription factors could constitute a novel strategy for enhancing brain folate delivery. Modulating folate uptake at the BBB may have clinical significance due to the lack of established optimal therapy for neurometabolic disorders caused by loss of FRα or PCFT function. 

What Camille is saying is that if folate transport mechanism number 1 and/or number 2 are not working, we can reinvigorate mechanism number 3.

So if you have Dr Frye’s folate receptor antibodies, or PCFT isn’t working then you might focus on Reduced Folate Carrier (RFC).

The good news is that we have lots of ways to target Reduced Folate Carrier (RFC).

We do not, it seems, have any clever ways to target PCFT. 

NRF-1 and PGC1-alpha

There is a lot in this blog about PGC1-alpha, because it is the master regulator for biogenesis of mitochondria.

All those people with impaired “brain energy” would love to activate PGC1-alpha.

NRF-1 is an activator of mitochondrial respiratory chain genes. NRF-1 specifically targets genes encoding subunits of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, particularly complexes I, III, and IV. By binding to their promoters, NRF-1 directly stimulates their transcription, leading to increased synthesis of these critical protein components and enhanced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity.

Synergy between NRF-1 and PGC-1alpha

PGC-1alpha acts as the upstream regulator. Various stimuli, such as exercise, cold exposure, and certain hormones, can trigger PGC-1alpha expression. Once activated, PGC-1alpha directly interacts with and co-activates NRF-1, enhancing its binding to target gene promoters and amplifying its transcriptional activity.

NRF-1 as the downstream effector.  NRF-1 fine-tunes the expression of specific mitochondrial genes, ensuring a balanced and efficient OXPHOS system. This synergy between PGC-1alpha and NRF-1 optimizes mitochondrial function and cellular energy production.

So for Natasa, trying to boost energy production in the brain and in the rest of the body, it would be ideal to have more NRF-1 and more PGC-1alpha

What has optimized mitochondrial function got to do with more folate in the brain?

It turns out that you can increase expression of Reduced Folate Carrier (RFC) via activating NRF-1 and/or PGC1alpha.

So what is good for your brain energy is likely to also be good for your brain folate.

Nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) upregulates the expression and function of reduced folate carrier (RFC) at the blood-brain barrier

Folates are important for neurodevelopment and cognitive function. Folate transport across biological membranes is mediated by three major pathways: folate receptor alpha (FRα), proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT), and reduced folate carrier (RFC). Brain folate transport primarily occurs at the choroid plexus through FRα and PCFT; inactivation of these transport systems results in suboptimal folate levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) causing childhood neurological disorders. Our group has reported that upregulation of RFC at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) through interactions with specific transcription factors, that is, vitamin D receptor (VDR) could increase brain folate delivery. This study investigates the role of nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) in the regulation of RFC at the BBB. Activation of NRF-1/PGC-1α signaling through treatment with its specific ligand, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), significantly induced RFC expression and transport activity in hCMEC/D3 cells. In contrast, transfection with NRF-1 or PGC-1α targeting siRNA downregulated RFC functional expression in the same cell system. Applying chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, we further demonstrated that PQQ treatment increased NRF-1 binding to putative NRF-1 binding sites within the SLC19A1 promoter, which encodes for RFC. Additionally, in vivo treatment of wild type mice with PQQ-induced RFC expression in isolated mouse brain capillaries. Together, these findings demonstrate that NRF-1/PGC-1α activation by PQQ upregulates RFC functional expression at the BBB and could potentially enhance brain folate uptake.

The hugely simple intervention mentioned above is to just take vitamin D. This has nothing to do with brain energy.

Upregulation of reduced folate carrier by vitamin D enhances brain folate uptake in mice lacking folate receptor alpha

Folates are critical for brain development and function. Abnormalities in brain folate transport have been implicated in a number of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, including cerebral folate deficiency syndrome, hereditary folate malabsorption, and autism spectrum disorders. These disorders have devastating effects in young children, and current therapeutic approaches are not sufficiently effective. In this study, we demonstrate that functional expression of the folate transporter, reduced folate carrier, at the blood–brain barrier and its upregulation by the vitamin D nuclear receptor can remarkably increase folate transport to the brain. These findings provide a strategy for enhancing brain folate delivery for the treatment of neurometabolic disorders caused by folate transport defects.

 Low vitamin D correlates with poor health, dementia, and death from all causes

Taking vitamin D has become popular in recent years.

A correlation does not guarantee causality.  It was thought that vitamin D might be the silver bullet to improved health in older people. It has not proved to be.

Low vitamin D also correlates with less time outdoors, doing some physical activity. Taking vitamin D does not mean you will live longer, but we know for sure that exercise improves many medical concerns that will improve healthy life expectancy.

The concern many people now have regarding skin cancer leads to some healthy active people having low vitamin D. Put on that sunscreen and your exposed skin will not be able to produce your vitamin D.

Vitamin D is important to health and is easy to maintain in the normal range, but it is just one element of good health. It might be one way to increase folate in the brain, for those who need it. 

 

Conclusion

How do you increase folate in the brain?

The obvious way is to put more folate in your blood, this is the standard therapy. You either take calcium folinate tablets or, very rarely, the more potent infusions.

If you have antibodies blocking transport via FRA, you could follow the hypothesis that these antibodies are from a reaction to cow’s milk and try going dairy-free. There is a complex relationship between milk and folate receptor alpha antibodies (FRAA), but direct evidence of milk causing FRAA production is limited.

Milk, particularly cow's milk, contains proteins similar to folate receptor alpha found in humans. Some individuals, mainly those with a genetic predisposition, could develop FRAA that cross-react with these milk proteins. This cross-reactivity would not necessarily mean the milk directly caused FRAA production but might trigger an existing immune response. Some studies, though not all, have found an association between higher milk consumption and increased FRAA levels.

If you want to increase folate transport via our third mechanism, Reduced Folate Carrier (RFC) you have many options:

The obvious first step is to take a vitamin D supplement to raise levels to the high end of normal. This can be done by taking a larger supplement just once a week, because vitamin D has a long half-life.

As you can see from the study below in children there is a correlation between low vitamin D and low folate in children.

 

Evaluation of correlation between vitamin D with vitamin B12 and folate in children

The present study reported a positive correlation between vitamin D and vitamin B12 and folate levels. Regular measurement of these two micronutrient levels in children with vitamin D deficiency is important for public health.

Vitamin D is low in much of the population, even more so in wintertime. It seems particularly low in children with autism, perhaps because they are spending less time playing outside than other children.


Activate NRF-1 and/or PGC1alpha:

1.     Exercise, particularly endurance training

2.     PQQ supplement

3.     Perhaps resveratrol/pterostilbene

4.     Butyric acid / sodium butyrate

5.     The very safe old drug Metformin

6.     Other type 2 diabetes drugs like Pioglitazone

Metformin has been shown to raise IQ in Fragile-X by about 10 points and has a range of metabolic benefits and even cancer preventative effects. This common diabetes medication primarily targets AMPK, an energy sensor molecule upstream of PGC-1alpha. By activating AMPK, metformin indirectly stimulates PGC-1alpha and subsequently NRF1, leading to enhanced mitochondrial function.

Pioglitazone has been researched in autism and is my choice for peak risk spring/summer aggression and self-injury. Pioglitazone can potentially upregulate PGC-1alpha expression through several pathways:

                    Pioglitazone activates AMPK, an important energy sensor molecule. AMPK can then stimulate PGC-1alpha expression through various signaling pathways.

                    Pioglitazone activates PPAR-gamma and PPAR-gamma directly interacts with PGC-1alpha, potentially increasing its activity.

I think Metformin has a better safety profile than Pioglitazone and so better for every day use.

Butyric acid does have the potential to activate PGC-1alpha. Butyric acid is produced in the gut by fermentation. You need “good” bacteria and fiber. People with healthy diet naturally produce it. You can also buy it as a supplement (sodium butyrate) since it has numerous benefits – everything from gut health, bone health to a tight blood brain barrier.

According to a doctor I was talking to recently, nobody wants to hear that exercise is a key part of health. It is free and the side effects are generally all good ones. Endurance exercise will boost NRF1 and PGC1alpha. Many people with autism are overweight, often due to the psychiatric drugs they have been put on.

Sirtuin activators boost NRF1 and PGC1 alpha. There are drugs and foods which can do this, but a potent way is through exercise.

I hope Dr Frye is checking his patients’ vitamin D levels and supplementing to the safe upper limit.

Those taking I/V calcium folinate might want to look at the more potent ways to activate NRF1 and/or PGC1alpha.

 



Friday 8 December 2023

Walnuts for Brain Health in Aging and ADHD, but in Autism?

 

Source: Ivar Leidus - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98723321

 

Diet does seem to be the most popular intervention for autism and it does appear to give benefits, particularly in those with milder autism.

There are lessons to be learnt from healthy aging, when looking at how to optimise brain function in those with a neurodevelopmental disorder like autism.

As we age, multiple processes in the body start to function sub-optimally and this pretty much determines our healthy life expectancy. There are overlaps between features of this sub-optimal function (oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation etc) and what is present in people with level 3 autism and/or intellectual disability.

The dietary keys to healthy aging:

A healthy varied diet rich in fruits, berries, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts.

Healthy fats and lean protein.

To this we have to add all those herbs and spices.

Herbs, in large quantities, are a key element of the Mediterranean diet and are often omitted by people trying to copy this diet. I still remember meeting our reader Petra in Greece and receiving her gift of olive oil and oregano – it was a huge bag of oregano, not the size you might find in a supermarket in Northern Europe.

The healthy Okinawa diet is distinguished by low-calorie intake, fish, very little meat, fermented food (like natto), not to forget the seaweed. They also consume large amounts of a purple sweet potato. Okinawan sweet potatoes, also known as purple sweet potatoes, are a type of sweet potato that is native to Okinawa. They are characterized by their deep purple flesh, which is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant.

I have to say that having visited an island in the Okinawa archipelago they also have some very unhealthy food adopted from US military bases. Spam sushi was everywhere, as are US style fast food outlets, with over-sized burgers. I found it hard going eating fish three times a day, albeit those small amounts.

 


Greece is no different, there are older Greeks with healthy traditional diets, but no shortage of giros and souvlaki joints catering to the locals and the tourists alike.

 

 

Nuts!  Not just at Christmas



Nuts are on the list of healthy foods, but I think most people neglect them.

It is difficult to incorporate sufficient nuts into your diet unless you are going to spend time eating them by the handful.

Incorporating large amounts of herbs like oregano, basil, sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, mint etc is not so hard and you end up with much tastier food. They provide numerous health benefits. 

I was very surprised to find that there was so much evidence to support the humble walnut.

I was also surprised where some of the evidence comes from.

I did exchange emails many years ago with Abha Chauhan, a well-known researcher at the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities in New York. She has written some very cutting edge research about oxidative stress.

She turns out to be a fan of walnuts.

She does actually list nutrition among her research interests:-

Alzheimer's disease, amyloid, free radicals, glutathione, mitochondria, nutrition, oxidative stress, protein kinases

 Her paper is here:-

Beneficial Effects of Walnuts on Cognition and Brain Health


I did previously wonder why New York has a research center into intellectual disabilities. Here is some information.

 

The Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR) is a proud part of New York State’s long history of caring for its citizens with developmental disabilities. It was in the 1940s and 1950s that the idea of creating an institute dedicated to studies in mental retardation was first discussed. In 1958, enabling legislation was passed for the creation of the Institute for Research in Mental Retardation within the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene. Ground was broken for the Institute’s research tower in 1964, and when its first laboratories opened in 1968, IBR was the first large-scale institute in the world with the mandate to conduct basic and clinical research into the causes of mental retardation. IBR became part of OPWDD, then known as the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) in 1979; a year later, it was renamed the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities to reflect OMRDD’s broader focus on many developmental disabilities.  

Research is always good, but what really matters is translating it to therapy. How about actually getting kids with autism treated for oxidative stress? This I recall discussing with Abha and her response was that the funding is lacking for clinical trials. My response was that she could always give Mike Bloomberg a call.  How much money do you really need? 


Abha, Alzheimer’s and the walnut

As we saw Alzheimer’s was number one on Abha’s research interests. Here we have her paper suggesting walnuts for Alzheimer’s.

 

Benefits of a diet with walnuts in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a severe neurodegenerative disorder, responsible for 60-70% of cases of dementia. The most common symptoms are memory loss, disorientation and loss of cognition. To date, there is no known cure for this disease, but Dr Abha Chauhan, based at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, USA, has shown how supplementation with walnuts in the diet can help Alzheimer’s mice slow down the development of the disease. Her research demonstrates that walnuts can limit the oxidative stress characteristic of this condition, as well as promote the body’s natural antioxidant defence mechanisms. 

Based on these results, it’s reasonable to suggest that supplementation with walnuts may help in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, delaying its onset and/or slowing its progression due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of different components of walnuts. At the very least, these results indicate that it may be worth conducting similar studies in humans.

 

It’s difficult to say at this stage what exactly in the walnut is responsible for these benefits, but in addition to antioxidants in walnuts, ALA (omega-3 fatty acid) may also be a contributing factor. While most nuts contain monounsaturated fats, only walnuts consist primarily of polyunsaturated fat, of which ALA is the main constituent. This fatty acid is the precursor of vital fatty acids, important for regulating serotonin and dopamine concentrations, as well as modulating key inflammatory and immune functions.

 

Beneficial Effects of Walnuts on Cognition and Brain Health

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation have important roles in the aging process, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and other brain disorders. Amyloid beta protein (Aβ) is the main component of amyloid plaques in the brains of people with AD. Several studies suggest that Aβ increases the generation of free radicals in neurons, which leads to oxidative damage and cell death. Aβ can also induce neuroinflammation by increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes. Walnuts contain several components that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Animal and human studies from our and other groups suggest that supplementation with walnuts in the diet may improve cognition and reduce the risk and/or progression of MCI and AD. In the transgenic AD mouse model (AD-tg), we have reported the beneficial effects of a diet with walnuts on memory, learning, motor coordination, anxiety, and locomotor activity. Human clinical trials have also suggested an association of walnut consumption with better cognitive performance and improvement in memory when compared to baseline in adults. Our recent study in AD-tg mice has shown that a walnut-enriched diet significantly improves antioxidant defense and decreases free radicals’ levels, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation when compared to a control diet without walnuts. These findings suggest that a diet with walnuts can reduce oxidative stress by decreasing the generation of free radicals and by boosting antioxidant defense, thus resulting in decreased oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. An in vitro study with synthetic Aβ showed that walnut extract can inhibit Aβ fibrillization and solubilize the preformed Aβ fibrils, suggesting an anti-amyloidogenic property of walnuts. Because it takes many years for cognitive impairment and dementia to develop, we suggest that early and long-term dietary supplementation with walnuts may help to maintain cognitive functions and may reduce the risk of developing, or delay the onset and/or slow the progression of, MCI and dementia by decreasing Aβ fibrillization, reducing oxidative damage, increasing antioxidant defense, and decreasing neuroinflammation. Furthermore, several animal and human studies have suggested that walnuts may also decrease the risk or progression of other brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and depression, as well as of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Together, these reports suggest the benefits of a walnut-enriched diet in brain disorders and in other chronic diseases, due to the additive or synergistic effects of walnut components for protection against oxidative stress and inflammation in these diseases.

  

Walnuts for teenagers? 

That’s Nuts! Eating Walnuts Regularly Improves Cognitive Development and Psychological Maturation in Teens

Summary: Teens who added walnuts to their diet for 100 days showed improvements in attention function, and for those with ADHD, frequent walnut consumption was associated with improvements in behavior. Researchers also noted an increase in fluid intelligence in those who frequently consumed walnuts as part of their daily diet.

  

Walnuts May Help Teens with Maturity, Thinking, and Attention

 

Effect of walnut consumption on neuropsychological development in healthy adolescents: a multi-school randomised controlled trial

Background

Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for neuropsychological functioning. Adolescence is increasingly believed to entail brain vulnerability to dietary intake. The potential benefit on adolescent neurodevelopment of consuming walnuts, a source of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), remains unclear.

Methods

We conducted a 6-month multi-school-based randomised controlled nutrition intervention trial to assess whether walnut consumption has beneficial effects on the neuropsychological and behavioural development of adolescents. The study took place between 04/01/2016 and 06/30/2017 in twelve different high schools in Barcelona, Spain (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02590848). A total of 771 healthy teenagers aged 11–16 years were randomised into two equal groups (intervention or control). The intervention group received 30 g/day of raw walnut kernels to be incorporated into their diet for 6 months. Multiple primary endpoints concerning neuropsychological (working memory, attention, fluid intelligence, and executive function) and behavioural (socio-emotional and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] symptoms) development were assessed at baseline and after intervention. Red blood cell (RBC) ALA status was determined at baseline and 6 months as a measure of compliance. Main analyses were based on intention-to-treat using a linear mixed-effects model. A per-protocol effect of the intervention was analysed using inverse-probability weighting to account for post-randomisation prognostic factors (including adherence) using generalised estimating equations.

Findings

In intention-to-treat analyses, at 6 months there were no statistically significant changes between the intervention and control groups for all primary endpoints. RBC ALA (%) significantly increased only in the intervention group, coefficient = 0.04 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.03, 0.06; p < 0.0001). The per-protocol (adherence-adjusted) effect on improvement in attention score (hit reaction time variability) was −11.26 ms (95% CI = −19.92, −2.60; p = 0.011) for the intervention group as compared to the control group, improvement in fluid intelligence score was 1.78 (95% CI = 0.90, 2.67; p < 0.0001), and reduction of ADHD symptom score was −2.18 (95% CI = −3.70, −0.67; p = 0.0050).

Interpretation

Our study suggested that being prescribed eating walnuts for 6 months did not improve the neuropsychological function of healthy adolescents. However, improved sustained attention, fluid intelligence, and ADHD symptoms were observed in participants who better complied with the walnut intervention. This study provides a foundation for further clinical and epidemiological research on the effect of walnuts and ALA on neurodevelopment in adolescents.  

Walnuts for Autism? 

I did find a case study from the Middle East putting forward reasons why walnuts and pumpkin may benefit some types of autism.  It was not a robust study, but I was surprised to find anything at all on this subject. 

Effects of Walnut and Pumpkin on Selective Neurophenotypes of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study

Special diets or nutritional supplements are regularly given to treat children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The increased consumption of particular foods has been demonstrated in numerous trials to lessen autism-related symptoms and comorbidities. A case study on a boy with moderate autism who significantly improved after three years of following a healthy diet consisting of pumpkin and walnuts was examined in this review in connection to a few different neurophenotypes of ASD. We are able to suggest that a diet high in pumpkin and walnuts was useful in improving the clinical presentation of the ASD case evaluated by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered gut microbiota, all of which are etiological variables. Using illustrated figures, a full description of the ways by which a diet high in pumpkin and nuts could assist the included case is offered.

This case study does not support broad food treatments as a treatment for ASD, but it does imply that specialized dietary interventions over time may play a role in the management of certain ASD symptoms, functions, and clinical domains. The pumpkin/walnut healthy diet improved nutritional status, presumably increasing the brain’s ability to function and learn by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered gut microbiota, all of which are etiological mechanisms behind the clinical presentation of ASD.   

Impact of Nut Consumption on Cognition across the Lifespan 

Cognitive health is a life-long concern affected by modifiable risk factors, including lifestyle choices, such as dietary intake, with serious implications for quality of life, morbidity, and mortality worldwide. In addition, nuts are a nutrient-dense food that contain a number of potentially neuroprotective components, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, B-vitamins, non-sodium minerals, and highly bioactive polyphenols. However, increased nut consumption relates to a lower cardiovascular risk and a lower burden of cardiovascular risk factors that are shared with neurodegenerative disorders, which is why nuts have been hypothesized to be beneficial for brain health. The present narrative review discusses up-to-date epidemiological, clinical trial, and mechanistic evidence of the effect of exposure to nuts on cognitive performance. While limited and inconclusive, available evidence suggests a possible role for nuts in the maintenance of cognitive health and prevention of cognitive decline in individuals across the lifespan, particularly in older adults and those at higher risk. Walnuts, as a rich source of the plant-based polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, are the nut type most promising for cognitive health. Given the limited definitive evidence available to date, especially regarding cognitive health biomarkers and hard outcomes, future studies are needed to better elucidate the impact of nuts on the maintenance of cognitive health, as well as the prevention and management of cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer disease.

   

Conclusion

We are told in dietary advice from public health authorities that we should include nuts in our daily diet. The suggested daily amount is about 30 grams (1 ounce).

If you had to choose one nut, it looks like the walnut is the one most likely to help the brain.

Teenagers with ADHD are suggested to benefit in the research from Spain.

Abha Chauhan over in New York is a proponent of walnuts for potentially slowing down Alzheimer’s disease.

Whether walnuts may benefit some with autism is an open question, but there are reasons to believe that it should. Over in Abu Dhabi one autism practitioner is suggesting combining walnuts with pumpkin for optimal effect. 

Ensuring healthy aging with diet and exercise is actually very straight forward, but most people still choose not to do it.

Treating severe autism is much more hit and miss, but many of those who persevere see good results.