By Dr. Ron Brown
At a Cabinet meeting of the Trump administration held on April 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reported that “we’ve launched a massive testing and research effort that’s going to involve hundreds of scientists from around the world.”
Kennedy then predicted that “By September we will know what has caused the autism epidemic, and we’ll be able to eliminate those exposures.”
President Donald Trump commented that one out of 31 children is affected by autism today.
Environmental exposures and neurodevelopment pathology
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a multifaceted etiology involving both genetic and environmental factors.
Research has increasingly highlighted the role of environmental exposures, including diet and maternal nutrition, in influencing neurodevelopmental outcomes:
- “Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder”
- “The contribution of environmental exposure to the etiology of autism spectrum disorder”
- “Environmental risk factors for autism: an evidence-based review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses”
Among dietary exposures, the rising consumption of ultraprocessed foods has drawn significant attention due to their potential impact on brain health.
Ultraprocessed foods are often laden with chemical additives, such as phosphate compounds, which are used to enhance flavor, texture and shelf life.
Evidence from my peer-reviewed research article published in Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine suggests that excessive dietary phosphate intake may disrupt phosphate metabolism, leading to neuroinflammation, gliosis and other pathological changes associated with ASD.
This editorial summarizes key details from my published research, which could contribute to Kennedy’s predicted discovery of the cause of the autism epidemic.
The following text describes the neurodevelopmental pathology linked to phosphate additives in ultraprocessed foods.
Dysregulated phosphate metabolism and ASD
Impact on the central nervous system and ASD pathology: Dysregulated phosphate metabolism affects cellular signaling and neural communication, contributing to pathological changes observed in autism spectrum disorder.
Disruption of phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases: Neuronal membranes rely on a delicate balance between enzymes such as phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases for proper cell signaling and membrane stability.
Dietary phosphate overload leads to dysregulation in this balance, impairing neuronal function and exacerbating developmental issues in individuals with ASD. This imbalance could underlie some of the characteristic traits observed in ASD, such as sensory processing difficulties and communication challenges.
Gliosis and neuroinflammation: Phosphate toxicity triggers gliosis, characterized by the excessive growth of glial cells in connective tissue of the brain, leading to chronic neuroinflammation and disrupted neural circuitry by interfering with normal synaptic connections.
Phosphate additives and ultraprocessed foods
Definition and prevalence: Ultraprocessed foods increasingly dominate modern diets, correlating with the gradual rise of the autism epidemic. Some common examples of phosphate additives include phosphoric acid in carbonated beverages and sodium aluminum phosphate in baked goods.
Processed meats, packaged snacks, and fast foods are also notable culprits. Casein, a protein present in dairy products, is another source of dietary phosphate that may exacerbate symptoms in individuals with autism.
Contribution to dietary phosphate toxicity: Phosphate additives significantly increase overall dietary phosphate intake, often exceeding recommended levels.
Unlike naturally occurring phosphates found in unprocessed foods, these additives are highly bioavailable, meaning they are rapidly absorbed by the body and contribute to phosphate overload. This excess can disrupt normal phosphate metabolism and exacerbate neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities.
Dietary interventions to reduce phosphate intake: Research supports dietary interventions, such as casein-free or ketogenic diets, as effective strategies that also reduce phosphate intake. These diets have shown promise in alleviating some ASD symptoms, and more research is needed in this area.
Addressing autism and neurodevelopmental disorders requires an interdisciplinary approach that integrates genetic, environmental and dietary research.
The effects of phosphate toxicity on neurodevelopmental pathology underscore the need for evidence-based nutrition interventions and public health policies that lower excessive dietary phosphate intake to prevent autism.
Originally published by TrialSite News.
Dr. Ron Brown’s research synthesizes novel theories and insights from the latest research findings on the causes and prevention of disease.
