New Data Supporting the Link Between Autism and Lyme Disease
The LIA foundation plans to release new data at the Lyme-Autism Connection conference this weekend linking Autism and Lyme disease.
Corona, CA (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- News reports indicate a staggering number of Lyme disease cases going unreported. With autism rates rising each year, doctors are examining this new connection.
With new CDC numbers showing one of the largest populations of Lyme disease sufferers being boys from the age of 5-14, this rings of déjà vu to parents of children with autism. Young boys are the largest category of victims of autism as well as Lyme disease, which is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi. Interestingly, the symptoms of chronic Lyme disease when affecting the central nervous system are literally the same symptoms as autism spectrum disorder.
The LIA Foundation will hold its first conference this week in Irvine, CA, in which new data will be released supporting this connection. "It's time that parents and doctors start looking outside the box as to why these children are so sick," comments co-founder of the LIA Foundation, Tami Duncan. "At this conference, we have presenters who will show that this connection is real."
"The increasing incidence of autism spectrum disorder (560,000 in the US) is a serious threat to our children and in most cases the cause is still unknown. Some clinicians and parents have noted chronic infections, including tick-borne infections; including Lyme disease and the immune reactions to these infections are sometimes associated with autistic symptoms and autistic spectrum disorder. This meeting will review the data regarding this observation and possible explanations of this association with a goal to help reduce any preventable cases of autism spectrum disorder," states Robert Bransfield, M.D. of Red Bank, NJ.
Doctors are beginning to support this link. Joseph Burrascano, M.D., the Vice President of ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Disease Society) states his position on Lyme disease and Autism. "It is my contention that Autism is an inflammatory encephalitis cause by a pathogen such as Bartonella or Mycoplasma. I share the view that Bartonella is a major infection that may eclipse Borrelia Burgdorferi as the ultimate cause of the morbidity in chronic Lyme disease. Mycoplasma too is a major concern of mine- in reviewing my 7000+ cases, those patients who were relentlessly chronic, all at one point or another in their illness, were positive for Mycoplasma."
In fact, one speaker at the conference, Professor Garth Nicholson of the Institute for Molecular Medicine has found that 58% of children with Autism spectrum disorder are also harboring multiple-infections, specifically Mycoplasma. "Since these chronic infections like Borrelia, Mycoplasma and Bartonella are known to suppress the immune system, it is not a stretch to assume that when the child was injected with obscene amounts of mercury, that his fate of having an autism diagnosis, would become reality," Duncan states.
Proof is on the way, with data to be released at the Lyme-Autism Connection Conference this weekend and studies in progress, parents and doctors can be sure to hear more about this in the coming months.
Conference information is available online at www.liafoundation.org . It is going to be held at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, CA, June 22 - 24th. Registration is available at the door.
About Autism
Autism is a disorder that currently affects 1 out of 150 children. Boys are the majority of those affected. The numbers of autism cases spiked in the mid-late 90's and continues to remain high. The exact cause of autism is still unknown, however, many theories exist. Most children do improve with some sort of bio-medical intervention.
About Lyme disease
Lyme disease is generally caused by a tick bite in which the tick transmits a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi. Symptoms of Lyme disease include, achy joints, confusion, slurring words or word retrieval problems, brain fog, sensitivity to light and sound. Lyme disease in its late stage can be fatal, causing MS like symptoms and debilitating its victims. Treatment for Lyme disease consists of antibiotic therapy.
About the LIA Foundation
The foundation was started in September 2006 by parents of children with autism and Lyme disease. Kathy Blanco of Beaverton, OR and Tami Duncan of Corona, CA are the founders. The foundations' goals are to educate families and physicians on the link between Lyme and autism, bring physicians together to form a consensus for testing and treatment options and to provide funding for research studies related to autism and/or Lyme disease.
Contact information:
Tami Duncan
LIA Foundation
1771 Honors Lane
Corona, CA 92883
(951) 817-1173
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