Central Causation of Autism/ASDs via Excessive [Ca2+]i Impacting Six Mechanisms Controlling

Abstract

Central Causation of Autism/ASDs via Excessive [Ca2+]i Impacting Six Mechanisms Controlling Synaptogenesis during the Perinatal Period: The Role of Electromagnetic Fields and Chemicals and the NO/ONOO(-) Cycle, as Well as Specific Mutations Pall ML. Central Causation of Autism/ASDs via Excessive [Ca2+]i Impacting Six Mechanisms Controlling Synaptogenesis during the Perinatal Period: The Role of Electromagnetic Fields and Chemicals and the NO/ONOO(-) Cycle, as Well as Specific Mutations. Brain Sciences. 2024; 14(5):454. doi: 10.3390/brainsci14050454. (Published: 30 April 2024) Abstract The roles of perinatal development, intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, and synaptogenesis disruption are not novel in the autism/ASD literature. The focus on six mechanisms controlling synaptogenesis, each regulated by [Ca2+]i, and each aberrant in ASDs is novel. The model presented here predicts that autism epidemic causation involves central roles of both electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and chemicals. EMFs act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation and [Ca2+]i elevation. A total of 15 autism- implicated chemical classes each act to produce [Ca2+]i elevation, 12 acting via NMDA receptor activation, and three acting via other mechanisms. The chronic nature of ASDs is explained via NO/ONOO(-) vicious cycle elevation and MeCP2 epigenetic dysfunction. Genetic causation often also involves [Ca2+]i elevation or other impacts on synaptogenesis. The literature examining each of these steps is systematically examined and found to be consistent with predictions. Approaches that may be used for ASD prevention or treatment are discussed in connection with this special issue: The current situation and prospects for children with ASDs. Such approaches include EMF, chemical avoidance, and using nutrients and other agents to raise the levels of Nrf2. An enriched environment, vitamin D, magnesium, and omega-3s in fish oil may also be helpful. Excerpts Figure 1 is an outline of the mechanisms proposed here and, in some cases, elsewhere, to act during the perinatal period of brain development [5], to disrupt synaptogenesis and therefore cause autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Accordingly, key factors in autism/ASD causation are proposed to be the six mechanisms in the lower left part of Figure 1 (in red), each of which have been shown to have important roles in synaptogenesis in the developing brain. These six mechanisms are neuronal migration, dendritic outgrowth, synapse formation, synapse maturation, synaptic pruning, and lowered MeCP2 function. It is shown below that these six mechanisms are regulated by intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i). VGCC activity acts via [Ca2+]i to produce diverse biological effects via the pathways shown in Figure 2 .... Let us shift now to ASD treatment and prevention. These are presented here not to give medical advice, but rather to enlighten the reader in the central issues of this special issue: The current situation and prospects for children with ASDs. Both treatment and prevention require avoidance of electronically-generated EMFs and diverse chemicals, however difficult that may be. Let us start with EMFs. There are many sources of EMFs in our living spaces, workplaces, educational and recreational environments, and even outdoors. Many of these are discussed in Section 2.1. There are “safety guidelines” initially proposed by ICNIRP, an organization set up by the industry and these ICNIRP safety guidelines have been adopted, sometimes with minor modifications, over much of the world. The ICNIRP and similar “safety guidelines” are all based on thermal effects produced over either a 6 min or 30 min period. However, as discussed above, biological effects are caused by electric forces or time-varying magnetic forces produced by electronically-generated EMFs, and are unrelated to thermal effect “safety guidelines”. It follows that all assurances of safety based on these “safety guidelines” have no scientific merit. Pregnant women should not use cell phones, cordless phones, should avoid Wi-Fi fields, and should use wired connections to the internet, avoid Bluetooth, should not spend time near smart meters, cell phone towers, avoid high voltage powerlines, etc. Pregnant women should avoid being in buildings with high dirty electricity in their electric powerlines. Such avoidance is very challenging. A second choice is to use shielding to protect the fetus and the young baby after birth. You can get large shielded T-shirts to protect the fetus, wearing a regular cloth T-shirt underneath to minimize body contact. Such shielding materials have large numbers of metal (often silver) fibers. I believe that shielding mostly acts by disrupting the coherence of the EMFs, therefore greatly lowering any electric or magnetic forces. Shielding has been extensively studied in the scientific literature [271,272,273,274,275,276,277]. For example, ref. [271] states that “By using wireless technologies, we increase the influence of the electromagnetic field on the human body. The basic measures for the protection against electromagnetic radiation are: (1) shielding of the radiation source, (2) shielding of the workplace, (3) personal protective equipment, (4) reduction of radiation in the immediate vicinity of the radiation source”. [271] goes on to discuss the shielding effects of both fabrics containing tiny metal fibers and also brick walls. You can buy shielding paint of two different types to protect yourself in your house and, if you live in an apartment, this may be the only way to protect yourself from your neighbors’ EMFs. Shielding paint can be either graphite (black) paint which can be painted over with other colors. Other more pleasant colored shielding paint can be purchased containing tiny metallic particles. You can also buy open shielding cloth to put over windows, making them into lace like curtains to lower EMF exposures coming through the windows. Similar approaches can be used after birth to protect the young baby. It is highly desirable to purchase a good EMF meter to provide information and prevent the worst exposures throughout the perinatal period. Open access paper: mdpi.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

This paper presents a mechanistic model proposing that the autism/ASD “epidemic” involves central roles for electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and chemicals, with EMFs acting via VGCC activation leading to elevated intracellular calcium and downstream disruption of six calcium-regulated mechanisms controlling synaptogenesis. The author states that literature examining the proposed steps is “systematically examined” and described as consistent with the model’s predictions, and discusses prevention/treatment approaches including EMF and chemical avoidance and certain nutrients.

Outcomes measured

• Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)/autism
• Disruption of synaptogenesis during perinatal brain development
• Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) elevation
• Voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation
• NO/ONOO(-) cycle elevation
• MeCP2 epigenetic dysfunction

Limitations

• Narrative/mechanistic model paper; no primary human exposure-outcome data reported in the abstract
• No quantitative exposure characterization (frequency, intensity, SAR) provided
• No sample size, study selection criteria, or formal systematic-review methods described in the abstract
• Causal claims about EMFs and ASD are presented as predictions/consistency with literature rather than demonstrated effect estimates in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.78)
  Discusses ICNIRP-based safety guidelines and critiques their thermal basis.
• smart-meters (0.6)
  Mentions avoiding time near smart meters during pregnancy/perinatal period.
• school-wi-fi (0.45)
  Mentions avoiding Wi‑Fi fields in educational environments, though not focused specifically on schools.

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        "source": "electronically-generated EMFs (cell phones, cordless phones, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, smart meters, cell phone towers, high voltage powerlines, dirty electricity)",
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        "duration": "perinatal period (pregnancy and early postnatal)"
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    "population": "Perinatal development (pregnant women/fetus; young baby) in context of autism/ASDs",
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    "outcomes": [
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    "main_findings": "This paper presents a mechanistic model proposing that the autism/ASD “epidemic” involves central roles for electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and chemicals, with EMFs acting via VGCC activation leading to elevated intracellular calcium and downstream disruption of six calcium-regulated mechanisms controlling synaptogenesis. The author states that literature examining the proposed steps is “systematically examined” and described as consistent with the model’s predictions, and discusses prevention/treatment approaches including EMF and chemical avoidance and certain nutrients.",
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