2011 Walsh Research Institute/Bio-balance Outreach Report

Dr Elizabeth Mumper gave an engrossing and extremely practical address on New Frontiers in the Treatment of Medical Problems of Children with Autism. She pointed out that recent research and clinical experience had led to a change in emphasis away from Autism as a brain disorder to Autism as a disorder that affects the brain. She went on to examine the practical implications of this change of emphasis in terms of treatment – e.g., intestinal dysmotility, fructose intolerance, clostridia, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, nutrition, thyroid dysfunction and other factors essential to be understood and taken into account in the practical management of autistic conditions. This address would be extremely helpful both to medical practitioners and to parents of children with autism.

Dr Mary Megson gave an equally stimulating and practical address on The Scientific Rationale for the Use of Nutrients in Autism. She examined not only the functional value but also the research justification supporting the use of Cod Liver Oil (for Cis Retinoids and Vitamin D); B6 and Magnesium; Calcium; Vitamin C; Probiotics; Digestive Enzymes; Essential Fatty Acids; Melatonin; Methylation support; Glutathione; trace elements such as Selenium, Lithium, Chromium and Manganese. This information would provide invaluable practical guidance for medical practitioners, parents and others involved in the support of children with autism. In addition, she provided an overview of the research evidence supporting the use of therapies in widespread use for autism including Auditory Integration Training, Applied Behavioural Analysis, Sensory Integration Therapy and others.

Dr Judith Bowman made a brief but clear-sighted presentation on the topic of Copper Metabolism and Post-Partum Depression in the light of her clinical experience in the treatment of this disorder. Her clinical experience strongly supports the findings of the research study by Prof. John Crayton and Dr William Walsh, the report on which was published in 2006. [The abstract of the journal article, together with a Newsletter article discussing the issue, is available at Page 2 of the February 2007 issue of the Bio-Balance Newsletter available on the Bio-Balance website.] Details of Dr Bowman’s presentation are available on the DVD.

The morning session concluded with Dr Mumper, Dr Megson and Dr Bowman responding to questions and comments raised by the audience about issues arising from their presentations.

Dr Timothy Bredy [Guest Speaker - ARC Australian Research Fellow, Psychiatric Epigenomics Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland] presented on the topic Epigenetic Mechanisms Mediating Vulnerability and Resilience to Psychiatric Disorders. It is impossible in the space available here to summarize Dr Bredy’s presentation on the relevance of basic research in the field of epigenetics to the understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders, so readers are urged to consult the detail of his masterful presentation available on the Conference DVD to enhance their understanding of this crucial topic. [Since 2008, the Bio-Balance Newsletter has featured several articles indicative of the increasing importance of epigenetics in research into the causes and treatment of mental, behavioural and autistic disorders – including articles by Dr Tim Bredy in the February 2011 issue (#11) and by Dr Bill Walsh in the September 2010 issue (#10). Reading all these Newsletter articles along with Dr Bredy’s Conference presentation should greatly enhance members’ understanding of this important topic.]

Dr William Walsh gave an eloquent and enlightening address on Nutrient Power. After outlining the extent and depth of his Institute’s database and research experience in the investigation of nutrient factors in mental, behavioural and autistic disorders, he pointed to the roles nutrients play in such crucial processes as neurotransmitter synthesis, reuptake processes at synapses, epigenetic regulation of gene expression and protection against oxidative stress. He pointed to a range of high-incidence chemical imbalances found in completely different mental disorders. and explained that each of these ‘repeat offenders” is directly involved in either the synthesis or the regulation of major neurotransmitters, all of which are synthesized in the brain. He went on to illustrate these processes and their effects before providing a plain-language introduction to the topic of Epigenetics and Mental Health, illustrating his explanation with various epigenetic insights into nutrient therapy and outlining the specific applications of nutrient therapy in the areas of behaviour disorders, depression, schizophrenia and autism. He concluded by voicing the conviction that the emerging science of epigenetics will lead to vastly improved therapies and quoted Pfeiffer’s Law: “For every drug that benefits a patient, there are natural substances that can produce the same effect.” The richness of his presentation can only be fully appreciated by viewing the Conference DVD

The afternoon’s proceedings concluded with a lively discussion session when Dr Bredy and Dr Walsh were joined by three of the ‘veterans’ of the Walsh Research Institute/Bio-Balance Sydney Outreach Training – Dr Sinclair Bode, Dr Elizabeth Lewis and Dr David Jaa – to field questions and issues raised by the audience arising from the afternoon’s presentations. This session proved extremely popular and stimulating