Contents:
- Medical Video: Autism: New Mutations, Genes, and Pathways
- Aluminum content in the brains of people with autism
- What exactly is aluminum and its effect on the body?
- How to reduce aluminum exposure?
Medical Video: Autism: New Mutations, Genes, and Pathways
Autism is a disorder of brain development that affects how the brain works. A study shows that there is a high aluminum content in people with autism. Then, can aluminum in the brain be the cause? To be clearer, consider the following review.
Aluminum content in the brains of people with autism
Autism spectrum disorder (GSA) is a disorder of the brain that does not develop and function normally. Until now, the exact cause of GSA is still uncertain. However, there are several theories that state that this condition occurs due to genetic factors, viruses, a weak immune system, and congenital abnormalities on the chromosomes.
Reporting from the Children's Medical Safety Research Institute, a study conducted by researchers from Keele University in the United Kingdom in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology examined samples of brain tissue of people with GSA who had died with transverse spectrophotometric technology.
The results show that the patient's five brains have an aluminum content of 2.30 to 3.82 mg / g of dry aluminum in brain tissue such as the occipital, frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. While previous studies have measured aluminum content in the brains of people without ASD. In people without GSA, only an average of 1 mcg / g of aluminum is found.
From the study, it can be concluded that the aluminum content in the brains of people with autism is higher compared to people without autism. Aluminum is not a substance produced by the body, it is likely that aluminum can enter the brain through the meningeal membrane and flow in the blood.
The researchers did not conclude that aluminum is the cause of autism, except that it can be neurotoxic (toxic to nerve cells) thus contributing to neurodegeneration. Neurodegeneration is a disease that attacks brain cells and the spinal cord in affected brain tissue.
What exactly is aluminum and its effect on the body?
Aluminum is a type of metal that is often used to make various objects. For example cooking utensils, beverage cans, or aluminum foil. This substance is also found in antacid drugs (for ulcers), aspirin, even in flour. Unlike minerals and vitamins, the body does not need aluminum. Unfortunately, this substance can be mixed with food and enter the body.
When it enters the body, aluminum will accumulate in the kidneys, brain, lungs, liver, or thyroid and compete with calcium in mineralization. Reporting from the Global Healing Center, aluminum that enters the body can attack the central nervous system, the brain. As a result, this content can increase the risk of disorders of the brain, especially in the elderly such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
However, once again until now there has been no definite conclusion that aluminum itself causes various types of diseases that attack the brain such as autism, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.
How to reduce aluminum exposure?
A small amount of aluminum will not harm the body. However, because it is not processed this substance will accumulate and can endanger health. There are many ways to reduce aluminum exposure to the body, namely limiting contaminated food and avoiding air exposed to aluminum.
Aluminum is often found in cheese and baking powder (food development ingredients). However, it can also be in other foods if food is cooked with equipment made from aluminum. Especially in foods that are acidic and cooked with hot temperatures.
In addition, smoke from factories, welders, and mining can also contain aluminum. This substance can be inhaled and enter the lungs and flow to the bones or brain. So, you should avoid living quarters near the factory and always use a protective mask so that aluminum is mixed with air that is not inhaled.
