Our team at the Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) Research Program at UT Health San Antonio wanted to share this important external article:
“Is autism preventable in certain cases after all? Some scientists say yes.”
The article, written by Ariana Eunjung Cha for The Washington Post and re-posted by MSN, cites studies by the TILT Research Program and others that show many cases of autism “could be prevented with the right interventions.”
“Separately, two recent studies [from the TILT Research Program] found that parents with the highest levels of an unusual sensitivity to everyday substances even at low levels, as measured by self-reported symptom patterns and validated questionnaires, were two times to 5.7 times more likely to report having a child with autism, prompting researchers to urge couples trying to conceive to minimize environmental exposures in their homes,” Cha wrote.
Exploring Chemical Intolerance and Autism
For the article, Cha also interviewed Dr. Claudia Miller, allergist/immunologist, professor emeritus, and leader of the TILT Research Program at UT Health San Antonio.
Miller said that “autism may in some cases be linked to a significant chemical exposure experienced by one or both parents — such as toxic mold — that leads to a chronic condition known as chemical intolerance.”
Once a toxic exposure has altered and sensitized an individual’s mast cells, the body’s first line of defense against foreign substances, it triggers TILT.
This may have happened to Elon Musk, Miller posits.
“[Miller] notes that with tens of thousands of synthetic chemicals present in everyday products — many introduced during the surge of industrialization after World War II — the number of potential triggers is vast,” Cha wrote.
Educating People about Chemical Intolerance and Autism
Miller is now leading the charge in educating people about TILT, chemical intolerance, and autism.
Start with the TILT Tutorials:
TILT Tutorial for Chemical Intolerance, Autism/ADHD
The tutorials aim to raise awareness of TILT and chemical intolerance among environmental health professionals, public health emergency response leaders, researchers, teachers, architects, parents and more.
Find Out If You Have Chemical Intolerance
Answer these three questions:
- Do you feel sick when you are exposed to tobacco smoke, certain fragrances, nail polish/remover, engine exhaust, gasoline, air fresheners, pesticides, paint/thinner, fresh tar/asphalt, cleaning supplies, new carpet or furnishings? By sick, we mean: headache, difficulty thinking, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, etc.
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse or allergic reactions to any drugs or medications (such as antibiotics, anesthetics, pain relievers, X-ray contrast dye, vaccines or birth control pills), or to an implant, prosthesis, contraceptive chemical or device, or other medical/surgical/dental material or procedure?
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse reactions to any foods such as dairy products, wheat, corn, eggs, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, or food additives (e.g., MSG, food dye)?
If you answer YES to any question, take the TILT Self Assessment and share the results with your doctor!
Email us at tilt@uthscsa.edu. Sign up for TILT e-news.