Research into effect of foods on autism

Jan 15 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

SCIENTISTS in the region are investigating whether diet has any effect on the behaviour of children with autism.

Four-year-old Edward Carey, one of the youngsters taking part, has an extremely rare condition which affects the blood vessels in his brain and caused his heart to stop moments after he was born.

As a baby he endured two life-saving brain operations with just a 10% survival rate and spent a week on life support and a further three weeks in a special care baby unit.

During the next two years he had three more operations to improve his condition and battled numerous infections as his Hazelrigg parents Carol and Steven and sister Eleanor, seven, looked on helplessly.

The family suffered further heartache when Edward was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and he continues to undergo treatment for the vein of Galen malformation which has caused brain damage.

His family are calling for more research into autism and Edward is taking part in a Newcastle University project funded by the Children’s Foundation which aims to focus on whether diet affects the behaviour of children with autism.

Carol said: “The research is fantastic, I hope there will be more into autism as there isn’t enough.

“I am really thrilled about living in the North-East and what has been done for Edward. We had three of the best hospitals on our doorstep which saved his life and have continued to treat him and learn from him as his condition is so rare.”

Edward was born at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary on September 1, 2003, but his heart stopped and he was immediately transferred to the neurology department at Newcastle General where doctors performed pioneering brain surgery to save his life.

Doctors inserted a tube into his brain via an artery in his groin. Glue in the tube was then used to block off some of the faulty veins and re-root the blood flow, reducing the pressure on the heart pumping blood.

Due to the brain damage caused by the malformation and his autism, the toddler is barely able to speak or communicate and has mobility problems and learning difficulties.

“He can only say ‘ear’ and has no desire to communicate with us at all. It’s hard as it’s like he’s not with us at all,” said Carol.

“But he gives a big smile when he comes into the room and likes rearranging the furniture.”

But his 37-year-old mother, a former buildings surveyor and 43-year-old policeman father remain optimistic that more research such as the Test Food Development Study will help them understand autism.

Edward, a pupil at Stepping Stones Nursery in Newcastle, was among 60 children aged three to five in the North-East, Scotland and South-East England who took part in the preparation study for 28 days to initially test specially-made gluten and dairy-free food products.

Researchers are currently recruiting 32 families for a pilot study – subject to funding – who will follow a completely gluten and dairy-free diet for five months from April.

They hope the studies will expand to a national project involving 210 children across the country who would follow the diet for five years to test the effect on their behaviour.

Professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Newcastle University Ann Le Couteur said: “The Children’s Foundation has funded £40,000 to develop the special test food with a local food company.

“The study will give us the definitive answer of whether diet is important for development and behaviour which is research many families with autistic children want.”