Flu link to schizophrenia (and autism) | Autism PDD

Article in Australian newspaper - thought I'd post for those that are interested.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/flu-link-to-schizophr enia/2007/07/15/1184438148729.html

SCIENTISTS have discovered why mothers-to-be who catch the flu during pregnancy may trigger schizophrenia in their unborn babies.

The finding, revealed at an international brain conference in Melbourne, brings US researchers closer to developing a therapy that might reverse the harmful effects of viruses on foetuses.

Women who contract respiratory infections such as influenza in the second trimester of pregnancy are up to seven times more likely to have a child with schizophrenia. There also is an increased risk of autism.

Professor Paul Patterson, a neuroscientist from the California Institute of Technology, said this risk was much greater than any known genetic influence.

He believes the virus can trigger a mental "switch" that permanently alters and inflames the brain of the foetus, setting the child up for mental illness in later life.

Until now, little was known about exactly how the virus caused the change.

Using tests on mice, the research team gave pregnant rodents the flu virus and watched the effect on the young mice after birth.

"The offspring had strikingly abnormal behaviour consistent with things that have been seen in schizophrenia and autism," Professor Patterson told delegates at the World Congress of Neuroscience yesterday.

The researchers discovered that rather than the virus directly triggering the brain change, it was the mother's immune response to the bug that caused the problem.

He said the results were exciting because they indicated it was possible to intervene at the foetal stage to stop brain changes.

It brings scientists closer to a therapy that could be administered to the baby after birth to reverse the damage. AAP

Thanks for sharing this. I wouldn't be surprised if viruses play a role -- after all, they've discovered that a virus is involved in cervical cancer and probably juvenile diabetes, too. However, the remedy for this is probably still a loooong ways off.I had a very serious case of influenza that lasted almost my entire second
trimester with Sharlet. Interesting...Leanne - That is fascinating...

I wonder if there is a genetic component - and the environmental trigger happens just like you explained?

Bug had a difficult delivery - big head, cord wrapped around his neck 1 time, and they had to use the vacuum to get him out.

He had decelerations the whole time I was pushing...

I wonder if there is a connection? Of course, he contracted Bacterial Meningitis, too - which is very rare - but the doctors don't think there is a connection between that and his Autism.

I wonder about the virus thing myself, from time to time. When I was six months along with Jason, I fell down a flight of stairs...on my tailbone! I'm pretty sure it was broken (took over a year before I could sit normally, etc.) That same weekend, I contracted a nasty stomach virus and ended up in the hospital on an I.V., I was so dehydrated.

I've wondered if those two events combined "did" something to him before he was even born. That, and borderline pre-eclampsia, too. I mean, it's too late now, but I wonder just the same. Then again, when I was in my last trimester with my youngest, I spent almost the entire month of May sick as a dog with some evil cold/flu thing, and he's pretty typical right now as far as I can tell.

*shrug*

schizophrenia is most of the time genetic. It runs in families thank goodness not in mine. I have enough neurological disorders to worry about.
I also beleive autism is genetic too. I also beleive most, if not all neurological disorders are genetic. My cousin has Asbergers WITH SID. Both my childern are showing signs. They both have SID (Sensory intergration disorder.)
All my aunts 3,1 uncle(the same side with ) either have central audio processing disorder or dyslexia. My biological father has central audio processing disorder. Guess what all my cousin have one of these disorders except 1 and I don't have it. After having kids, I found out my family history for my dad's side. I had to ask my aunts , my grandmother misled me by saying it's not my side of the family. It is her. If I would of known I would of adopted.
Most of them are geniuses and yes they live normal sucessful lives but on the other hand my biological father is a real looser.
My 1 grandmother is a carrier of 4 neurological disorders.
It really makes me wonder about my ancestors?

Very interesting...I had a forensic scientist tell me he thinks viruses are connected to many things people suffer with like dementia, schizophrenia and alzhiemers(?) MS, ...ect.. and people probably had it their whole life & just it was just slowly deteriating inside~creepy but very thought provoking:) What is scary is that IF it is true then it could of been prevented..now their no cure for these terrible conditions.

Viruses and or prions, I have wondered. Prions are smaller and less-detectable.

" I wouldn't be surprised if viruses play a role -- "

Norway Mom...I tend to agree with you. Since begining my research, I have come to believe that the triple jab could very well be responsible for the growth in DX of autism. I specifically wonder if the majority of regressive autism stems from them. Not mercury, but the viruses themselves.

I would love to be able to put my fingers on specific stats regarding regressives. Take the regressives out of the equation and I wonder if the number of DX's would be that of twenty years ago.

I remain unsure of the cause (but lean one way)...and am not sure it matters to me anymore regarding my son, but it would be nice to know.

Prions!! That was the word he used to describe them:) Totally forgot my microbiology!

non-social behavior (not ANTI-social, but not social like other rats)
idiosyncratic behaviors (stimming)
fear of novelty (the other pups love new mazes and ratty toys)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db =PubMed&list_uids=14985924&dopt=Abstract

The gist of the study was that either in utero or during the delivery/neo natal environment, a tiny blip of - or ongoing low levels of - asphyxia can lead to autistic behaviors. These guys theorize that autism has an obstetric or neonatal provenance. If so, I wonder if this is passed woman to woman in a family, since placental health or delivery difficulties can be inheritable.

At least all these studies are more clues...getting closer.

Yes, like Mad Cow ...

Only thing is, most autism is "static encephalopathy," not progressing like Mad Cow or Alzheimer's.

I HAVE however wondered about our kids' geriatric prognosis -- are they morep rone to alzheimer's or other dementias? Just wondering ... despite the long-range of the concept.