Adults with autism intentionally infected with an intestinal worm showed improved behavior after 12 weeks, reports HealthDay.  These preliminary findings come from a study not yet published, but led by the director of the Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program at Montefiore Medical Centre in New York City.  The study participants swallowed whipworm eggs for 12 weeks and, over that time, they became more adaptable.  Autistic individuals often have trouble dealing with deviations from expectations, but at the end of the 12 weeks, the participants showed less discomfort with change and did not engage in as many repetitive behaviors.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the whipworm is an intestinal parasite of humans. The larvae and adult worms live in the intestine of humans and can cause intestinal disease. The name is derived from the worm’s distinctive whip-like shape.  The worm is thought to have properties that mitigate a hyperactive immune system, which has been linked to autism.  While these findings are not considered evidence until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, they do provide an interesting foundation for discussing unorthodox treatments for autism.

A recent study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), found that administering oxytocin to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects their brain functioning.  After administering the hormone through nasal pathways, they measured the brain response to social stimuli using a functional MRI scan.  The researchers found that the hormone boosted brain functioning in response to socially meaningful stimulation, indicating that it may be possible to develop pharmacological therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders.

The advocacy organization Autism Speaks reports that ASD and autism are general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.  In varying degrees, children with these conditions display difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors.  This family of developmental disorders include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome.

Currently, about 1 in 88 children are identified as having ASD, reports the CDC.  In general, ASD is more common in males than females.  Currently, there is no clear link between ASD and race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.  Also, ASDs are a pervasive occurrence around the world, with similar prevalence rates in studies conducted across North America, Europe, and Asia.