✋ Hi! I'm sorry to fall so far behind posting here. Today's post is about the role of the brain-gut-microbiome axis in autism. I recommend that every adult with autism, and every parent or guardian of an autistic child research this topic. Here's a PMC report to get you started:
Science -- including medical science -- doesn't have all the answers; researchers are constantly learning, which means parents like me are constantly evaluating the mistakes we made due to lack of medical awareness back when I was a young mother of an autistic child.
Last July, in the midst of the pandemic panic, David's digestion problems progressed so dramatically that it caused him to lose a dangerous amount of weight. Via "teladoc" (video appointments), his gastroenterologist diagnosed him with "Functional Dyspepsia". This was followed up by video appointments and emailing with his dietitian, and I took over the at-home role of nutritionist specializing in menu planning for the purpose of gaining weight.
Wow! Talk about a steep learning curve! I've learned so much that thinking about getting officially certified as a nutritionist as a secondary career. While most of America is obese and needs help losing weight, David needs help gaining it without profound digestive complications and, from what I'm reading online, so do many, many other autistic people.
So, it may surprise you to read on a blog entitled "College and Career Autism Dream" that my top advice to you is not about academics or career preparation -- it's about health! Before you plan academics, look into whether your son or daughter has hidden digestion issues that could bloom later in life. If David had been diagnosed with "functional dyspepsia" as a child, I would have created the nutrition management plan now in place, and would have prioritized his academic and life program very differently. In David's case, it's "better late than never". But in the case of your young child, you can "nip the situation in the bud early".
I wish you and your family well.
