Autism
Episodes
Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses silicone safety, grounding, pentadecanoic acid, and the potential benefits of olive leaf extract and peptides.
In this clip, Dr. Jed Fahey describes the beneficial effects of sulforaphane in modulating the symptoms of autism and other brain disorders.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick answers audience questions on various health, nutrition, and science topics in this Q&A session.
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Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses silicone safety, grounding, pentadecanoic acid, and the potential benefits of olive leaf extract and peptides.
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In this clip, Dr. Jed Fahey describes the beneficial effects of sulforaphane in modulating the symptoms of autism and other brain disorders.
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Rhonda Alzheimer's Gut Sleep Omega-3 Inflammation Vaccine Vitamin K Autism Sauna COVID-19 NAD+ SupplementsDr. Rhonda Patrick answers audience questions on various health, nutrition, and science topics in this Q&A session.
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In this clip, Dr. Jed Fahey discusses strategies for disguising the flavor of broccoli sprouts.
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In this clip, Dr. Jed Fahey discusses the beneficial health effects of moringa.
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In this clip, Dr. Jed Fahey rebuts popular claims that an all-meat diet is healthful.
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Sulforaphane increases brain glutathione: relevance in autism, TBI, brain aging | Rhonda Patrick ClipIn this clip, Dr. Rhonda Patrick describes advances in sulforaphane research that are particularly relevant to the brain.
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Dr. Jed Fahey describes the beneficial effects of sulforaphane in modulating the symptoms of autism and other brain disorders.
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Dr. Rhonda Patrick makes her seventh appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.
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Epigenetics Vitamin D Nutrition Exercise Aging Metabolism Sleep Diabetes Telomeres DNA Damage Stem Cells Stress Melatonin Vitamin E Genetics 23andMe Heat Stress Autophagy Autism Folate Sauna AntioxidantOur genes influence the way we absorb and metabolize micronutrients. Nutrigenomics looks at the influence genetic variation has over micronutrient absorption/metabolism and the biological consequences of this dynamic relationship.
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Sulforaphane Nutrition Brain Diet Nootropics Inflammation Heat Stress Autism Isothiocyanates NRF2 Moringa SupplementsDr. Jed W. Fahey discusses the health benefits of isothiocyanates, including sulforaphane and moringa.
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Nutrition Vitamin D Metabolism Diabetes Telomeres Omega-3 Inflammation Depression DNA Damage Stem Cells Micronutrients Mitochondria Autophagy Autism Schizophrenia Resveratrol Sulforaphane Insulin Blue LightDr. Rhonda Patrick makes her fifth appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.
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Sulforaphane Brain Cancer Aging Heart Disease Insulin Resistance Inflammation Depression Behavior Mental Health Autism Mortality NRF2This podcast is about one of the most important biological pathways you could possibly take the time to learn about: the NRF2 pathway.
Topic Pages
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Sulforaphane
Sulforaphane modulates Nrf2-dependent antioxidant and heat-shock responses, a proposed mechanism for reducing oxidative stress linked to autism.
News & Publications
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Sulforaphane improves behavioral symptoms of autism. molecularautism.biomedcentral.com
Autism – often referred to as autism spectrum disorder, or ASD – is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, as well as restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. The disorder typically manifests in early childhood and is slightly more common among boys than girls. Roughly one in 54 people living in the United States has ASD. Findings from a recent clinical trial suggest that sulforaphane improves behavioral symptoms associated with autism.
Sulforaphane is a bioactive compound derived from precursors (glucoraphanin and myrosinase) in broccoli and broccoli sprouts. It exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may be beneficial against a wide range of chronic and acute diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, cancer, and others. Previous research has demonstrated that sulforaphane reduces behavioral symptoms of autism in young men. Sulforaphane exerts its therapeutic effects through a variety of mechanisms, the most notable of which is the activation of Nrf2, a cellular protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant and stress response proteins that provide protection against oxidative stress due to injury and inflammation. Sulforaphane is the most potent naturally occurring inducer of Nrf2.
The randomized, placebo-controlled trial, which involved 45 children (ages 3 to 12 years) with autism, occurred in three distinct phases. During the first phase, half of the children received a commercially available dietary supplement containing glucoraphanin and myrosinase (yielding approximately 15 micromoles of sulforaphane) every day for 15 weeks, while the other half received a placebo. During the second phase, which also lasted 15 weeks, all the children received the supplement. During the third phase, which lasted six weeks, none of the children received the supplement. Before and after the intervention, caregivers and investigators evaluated the participants' symptoms using standardized behavioral assessments. Investigators collected blood and urine samples from the participants to assess metabolic and biochemical changes.
They found that behavioral symptoms among the children who received the sulforaphane supplement improved during the first phase (compared to those on the placebo), but the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. However, both groups' behavioral symptoms improved during the second phase, as did markers of oxidative stress, mitochondrial respiration, inflammation, and heat shock proteins. The supplement elicited no adverse effects and was well tolerated.
These findings suggest that sulforaphane improves behavioral symptoms associated with autism. However, the study investigators caution that further study is needed to fully elucidate the clinical effects and mechanisms of action associated with the compound’s effects on autism.
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Sulforaphane reduces behavioral symptoms of autism in young men. www.ingentaconnect.com
Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, as well as restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. ASD affects roughly one in 68 people and is more common among males than females. A 2014 study showed that sulforaphane reduces communication impairments and behavioral symptoms in young men with autism.
Sulforaphane demonstrates low toxicity. It has been shown to reverse physiological anomalies commonly associated with ASD, including increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation.
The placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial involved 44 young men between the ages of 13 and 27 years who had been diagnosed with moderate to severe ASD. The authors of the study gave 29 of the participants sulforaphane derived from broccoli sprout extracts and gave the remaining 15 participants a placebo. They received their respective treatments for 18 weeks, followed by four weeks without treatment. Sulforaphane doses ranged between 50 and 150 micromoles (~9 milligrams and 26 milligrams, respectively). The participants' parents, caregivers, and physicians provided assessments of the young men’s behavior using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, Social Responsiveness Scale, and Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (CGI-I).
After 18 weeks on the treatment, the participants who took the placebo experienced little change, but those who took the sulforaphane showed marked improvements in their behaviors. In particular, the CGI-I scores reflected improvements in social interaction, behavior, and verbal communication. After the sulforaphane treatment ended, the participants' scores rose toward pretreatment levels on all assessments.
These findings suggest that sulforaphane ameliorates many of the behavioral symptoms associated with ASD. A follow-up study reflected similar effects.
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Maternal immune activation during pregnancy increases the severity of autism symptoms in children. www.eurekalert.org
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition characterized by impaired social interaction, behavioral problems, and poor communication. The disorder typically manifests in early childhood and is slightly more common among boys than girls. Roughly one in 54 people living in the United States has ASD. Findings from a new study suggest that maternal immune activation during pregnancy increases the severity of ASD in offspring.
Maternal immune activation due to autoimmune disorders, asthma, or allergies switches on the activity of inflammatory pathways and proinflammatory molecules. Many of these molecules can cross the blood–brain barrier and the placenta, potentially disrupting fetal development. Elevated levels of these proinflammatory molecules have been found at birth or during development in some people with ASD – a finding that has been linked with increased severity of symptoms.
The study involved 363 children who were enrolled in the Autism Phenome Project or the Girls with Autism Imaging of Neurodevelopment studies, along with their mothers. The authors of the study assessed children’s behavioral and emotional problems and reviewed the mothers' pregnancy histories.
They found that asthma was the most common immune condition among the mothers, but other conditions, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis were reported as well. Roughly 20 percent of the mothers of male children with ASD had asthma. Maternal immune conditions were associated with increased behavioral and emotional problems but not cognitive function in both sexes.
These findings indicate that maternal immune conditions may influence the severity of ASD symptoms in offspring and the severity of these symptoms may vary between males and females. Although there is no cure for ASD, robust data demonstrate that sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli sprouts, may be beneficial in reducing many of the behavioral and emotions symptoms associated with the condition.