Autism and the Methylation Cycle

Some interesting reading from the book by Dr. Bryan Jepson  Changing the Course of  Autism  on the problems with the methylation pathways in children with autism. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=BP86uPB3bi8C&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=methylation+cycle+autism&source=web&ots=D7_SYXRMhA&sig=fmcd3pnWJNPzsP8FuN1dX6T1_I4

Ronan’s Uncle Carl is an esteemed scientist, who graciously reads all of the stuff I send him and then sends his comments and suggestions.

Here’s Scientist Carl’s thoughts on this read…

There are so many theories that its hard to really know where to point and what to believe.  What strikes me most interesting about the gene mutation theory is that it might be the most “upstream” of all theories, such that gene mutations might lead to increased susceptibilities.  Gene therapies are thought to help treat people with mutations or entire gene deletions, but there are no cures.  Your genome is your genome.  Genes are the machinery that determine synthesis of proteins/enzymes/cytokines…, all of the components that control signaling and metabolism.  The gene therapy hypothesizes if one has a gene that generates an anomaly in one of these components, placing a new gene source that either blocks or floods the anomaly will correct the anomaly.  When I left graduate school people thought that gene therapy was going to be the next/best approach toward disease treatment.  That was 18yrs ago and its still not well understood/controlled.

I believe that the next wave is what’s called individualized medicine, where before any treatment for any disease is initiated, your genome information is collected (a colleague works for a company that does this – https://www.23andme.com/).  Some years down the line the thinking is that by knowing your genomic sequence we can use an algorithm of your genome and your disease/condition will yield the best treatment pathway.  I hope this doesn’t take 18yrs.  In the meantime, we’ll keep trying treatments for the pieces.

Love, Scientist Carl

Interesting, indeed!