An Epigenetic Model of Autism and a Warning Regarding Risperdal
It is becoming increasingly clear that autism is epigenetic in nature. A model of autism is presented that explains the non-Mendellian heritability of autism, vulnerability to environmental insults, the regression event, and the persistence of autism symptoms after onset. Risperdal is a psychiatric medication that has been widely used to improve behavioral symptoms in ASD children. Use of this drug for children during a period of rapid brain development is difficult to justify.
William J. Walsh, Ph.D., PhD
Dr. Walsh is the president of the Walsh Research Institute in Naperville, IL. He received his PhD in chemical engineering and is an internationally recognized expert on biochemical imbalances. He is the director of an international program for training physicians in advanced therapies. His recent autism research includes chemical analysis of autism brain tissues, studies focusing on oxidative damage and oxidative stress, and the role of epigenetics. He is the author of a new book titled Nutrient Power.
