PLT Test Blog

  Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) Tours, France, Gateway to the Loire Valley and Home to iBrain Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/user:Tango7174   We do seem to be going round in circles in this blog.   One doctor reader contacted me recently to tell me about Pentoxifylline for cognitive improvement. I told him that I am not surprised and that in the world of autism Pentoxifylline has been known to be beneficial for half a century.   The abstract below is from a Japanese paper in 1978   On our experience in using pentoxifylline for abnormal behavior and the autistic syndrome Abstract Describes the successful use of pentoxifylline (150–600 mg/day) with 3–15 yr old children with abnormal behavior (e.g., self-mutilation, aggressiveness, and hyperkinesis) and with autism. It is noted that while the drug was effective in reducing symptoms of autism, developmental factors in the disorder should not be ignored.   You might wonder why it has not been...

  We have seen in previous posts that certain metabolites produced in the gut can worsen existing autism and even create autism in mouse models. Much has been written about propionic acid, which when produced in the gut, rather than the beneficial butyric acid, causes behavioral problems.   This is what underlies the Nemechek Protocol ,  developed by Patrick Nemecheck, DO.   In his therapy you try to increase butyric acid production using inulin as a dietary fiber.  It does work for some people, but they are in the minority; in a small group it makes matters worse. We also saw that P-cresol, another chemical produced by fermentation in the gut, can trigger autistic behaviors. P-Cresol, like Propionic acid – a cause of Transitory Autism for some and a further burden for others A few years ago in the research we did come across a “wonder” bacteria called B. fragilis ( Bacteroides fragilis) .   This bacterium was able to reverse autism in the mouse model of...

  Our reader in Canada, AJ, did highlight a case series from Norway that showed that high dose Betaine/TMG was effective in improving functioning in people with autism due to creatine transporter deficiency.   The use of Betaine/TMG was really just stumbled upon and the authors considered what the beneficial possible mode of action could be.   Betaine (TMG) and Gene Therapy as potential alternatives to Bumetanide Treatment in Autism?   The effect was only present at high dose (7-10 g a day) not the much lower dose used by some DAN/MAPS doctors, who do prescribe TMG and the closely related DMG. The paper suggested that one possible effect might have been lowering chloride levels within neurons.   This is also the effect of Bumetanide. AJ suggested that Betaine/TMG might be an alternative to Bumetanide and one that does not need a prescription. Our reader Nancy reported a benefit in her adult son. The question is not whether or not high dose TMG is a useful ...