A thought provoking report from Stephen J. Genuis, M.D. at the University of Alberta, in the Journal of Child Neurology.
Celiac disease presenting as autism
Gluten-restricted diets have become increasingly popular among parents seeking treatment for children diagnosed with autism.
Some of the reported response to celiac diets in children with autism may be related to amelioration of nutritional deficiency resulting from undiagnosed gluten sensitivity and consequent malabsorption.
A case is presented of a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with severe autism at a specialty clinic for autistic spectrum disorders.
After initial investigation suggested underlying celiac disease and varied nutrient deficiencies, a gluten-free diet was instituted along with dietary and supplemental measures to secure nutritional sufficiency.
The patient's gastrointestinal symptoms rapidly resolved, and signs and symptoms suggestive of autism progressively abated.
This case is an example of a common malabsorption syndrome associated with central nervous system dysfunction and suggests that in some contexts, nutritional deficiency may be a determinant of developmental delay.
It is recommended that all children with neurodevelopmental problems be assessed for nutritional deficiency and malabsorption syndromes.
While researching a suitably learned response, I came across another of his papers. This time co-authored with his wife, Shelagh. Somehow it just knocked the stuffing out of me. I'll leave you all to snigger at the back.
Some of the reported response to celiac diets in children with autism may be related to amelioration of nutritional deficiency resulting from undiagnosed gluten sensitivity and consequent malabsorption.
A case is presented of a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with severe autism at a specialty clinic for autistic spectrum disorders.
After initial investigation suggested underlying celiac disease and varied nutrient deficiencies, a gluten-free diet was instituted along with dietary and supplemental measures to secure nutritional sufficiency.
The patient's gastrointestinal symptoms rapidly resolved, and signs and symptoms suggestive of autism progressively abated.
This case is an example of a common malabsorption syndrome associated with central nervous system dysfunction and suggests that in some contexts, nutritional deficiency may be a determinant of developmental delay.
It is recommended that all children with neurodevelopmental problems be assessed for nutritional deficiency and malabsorption syndromes.
While researching a suitably learned response, I came across another of his papers. This time co-authored with his wife, Shelagh. Somehow it just knocked the stuffing out of me. I'll leave you all to snigger at the back.
Orgasm Without Organisms Science or Propaganda?
Stephen J. Genuis, Shelagh K. Genuis,
The worldwide epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) presents a major public health challenge to medical practitioners and educators as they seek to implement preventive educational strategies in the adolescent population.
The serious consequences of many STDs and the insufficient impact of condom promotion in this high-risk group have led to increasing recognition that sexual intercourse is medically unwise for young adolescents.
As a result of this recognition, some educators have proposed that adolescent sexuality education focus on the explicit teaching of noncoital sexual activities, sometimes called outercourse.
This paper explores the emergence of this educational strategy, the assertion that noncoital sexual activities will positively impact the rising incidence of STDs and unplanned pregnancy in teenagers, and the hypothetical benefits of adolescent noncoital sex.
The worldwide epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) presents a major public health challenge to medical practitioners and educators as they seek to implement preventive educational strategies in the adolescent population.
The serious consequences of many STDs and the insufficient impact of condom promotion in this high-risk group have led to increasing recognition that sexual intercourse is medically unwise for young adolescents.
As a result of this recognition, some educators have proposed that adolescent sexuality education focus on the explicit teaching of noncoital sexual activities, sometimes called outercourse.
This paper explores the emergence of this educational strategy, the assertion that noncoital sexual activities will positively impact the rising incidence of STDs and unplanned pregnancy in teenagers, and the hypothetical benefits of adolescent noncoital sex.
Rather intrigued by this, I regained my composure, and did a little digging. Just who is this Dr Genuis?
Dr. Stephen Genuis has worked as a full time Obstetician for many years and has had the honor of delivering more than six thousand babies. He has numerous publications in medical literature on various topics but most importantly he is Shelagh's husband and his kids' "Pa."
You can order Dr. Genuis' books at Winfield House .
You can order Dr. Genuis' books at Winfield House .
Ah! Another doctor selling books.
Teen Sex: Reality Check - Stephen I. Genuis, M.D. Risky Sex: The onslaught of sexually transmitted disease - Stephen Genuis
Reproduction Rollercoaster: Infertility and the Assisted Reproductive Technologies - Stephen Genuis
He's written some other interesting articles, as well:
"Are condoms the answer to rising rates of non-HIV sexually transmitted infection? No" - Genuis S J, BMJ, 2008, 336:185
He has some interesting friends too:
While the new research on sunlight leaves many questions unanswered, my retired doctor friend who suffers from seasonal affective disorder now claims that next winter he is going to travel south to soak up some rays in a nudist colony.
One of his patients commented:
Can be expensive as he utilizes alternative/naturopath methods, but worth it if you need help becoming healthy.
Another said:
I was very sick for 3 years and a doctor told me to see him for environmental issues , Be careful when you spend 5 grand on.
He also has a sideline as hero to the Christian far-right and is oft quoted as an authority on such matters as abortion, contraception and assissted suicide. He will be speaking soon at a conference in Ontario for Chritians ladies, who most definitely won't do for you, on a first date:
don't get your hopes up boys
don't get your hopes up boysDr. Stephen Genuis, has authored three books as well as numerous articles and publications. People continue to be crushed by debilitating physical / mental health problems.
Dr. Genuis presents the latest cutting-edge advances in women's health care. He will help demystify the underlying causes of many disorders, instead of just masking the symptoms.
From pregnancy to osteoporosis; anxiety to depression, Dr. Genuis has the info you need to know.
Ah! Another doctor selling books and doing the conference circuit and sticking a bit of smoldering hemp-based gusset liner in your ear, and forcing you to eat ground coconut husks, then charging you $5000. Quite an guy, all round.
Caveat Emptor.
Dr. Genuis presents the latest cutting-edge advances in women's health care. He will help demystify the underlying causes of many disorders, instead of just masking the symptoms.
From pregnancy to osteoporosis; anxiety to depression, Dr. Genuis has the info you need to know.
Ah! Another doctor selling books and doing the conference circuit and sticking a bit of smoldering hemp-based gusset liner in your ear, and forcing you to eat ground coconut husks, then charging you $5000. Quite an guy, all round.
Caveat Emptor.
7 Replies:
I've discovered this "study" only yesterday, while browsing PubMed for the latest in Autism science.
My first reaction was "Wow, this is gonna be the death of AoA" before I realized these "findings" are based on the observation of one child.
How his observation of one child led him to believe malabsorption is "common", I don't know.
Am I missing something here?
Maybe I have a problem with comprehension, but this sounds like utter baloney to me.
Also lulz @ "outercourse" more commonly known as "foreplay."
Good idea.
/sarcasm.
It's is. Mangled, spiced, animal flesh in an intestine, I mean.
It just shows what crap can get published in a scientific journal...
I wonder if Dr Genuis is producing a guide for the youngsters? - The Joy of Outercourse?
LMFAO! How do u do it?
i) not smoking dope hint
ii) getting angry hint hint
iii) getting a google account hint hint hint
iiii) writing about it hint hint hint hint
I have a little boy with Autism who is on the Gluten Free, Casein Free diet because he had chronic bleeding from the rectum. He's much better now, as well as less aggressive and less prone to screaming and crying. I would chalk that up to feeling better = acting better, not to some notion that autism is just the worst gluten-induced bellyache ever. (I know a woman who has two daughters with celiac disease, and neither of them have Autistm)
So Dr. Genius doesn't get my vote either. And great blog, Socrates!
Abez,
Thank you for dropping by.
One reason I was so angry with Dr Genuis, is that he and his ilk, muddy the waters by throwing out spurious hypotheses with little regard for the consequences.
This misinformation makes life far more difficult for parents like yourself, to get accurate and useful information.
Although I'm not too well informed about GI issues in autistic children, I'm left with the impression that some mainstream physicians, don't take the issue seriously enough - leaving a vacuum that people like Genuis fill.
Given that there are so many parents complaining about GI problems in their kids, one would expect GI issues to be a routine part of autism screening and care.
Certainly in the UK, this isn't the case - and one of the London Autistic Rights Movement's submissions to the Government recently, was to demand that there should be routine screening for common-comorbid conditions.
We are still along way from even getting the basics in place. But at least there is some movement at last.
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