It seems inconceivable to me that the forwarded study titled
"Abnormal melatonin synthesis in autism spectrum disorders" would not
include some sort of evaluation regarding nighttime EMF/EMR
exposures. While the study acknowledges that low levels of
melatonin have been reported in individuals with autism spectrum
disorders, the abstract indicates "....underlying cause of this
deficit was unknown....."
The abstract refers to the ASMT gene as "encoding the last enzyme
of melatonin synthesis..."
A review of the entire study may yield other important facts since
the authors state "....highlight the crucial role
of melatonin in human cognition and behavior......"
Facts in this study are obviously also relevant in regard to
Alzheimers' Disease which involves many years of increasing
cognitive decline and behavioral problems that usually lead to
need to place patients in secured nursing home
facilities.
Whether autism or Alzheimers, the problems and costs to patients,
caregivers, as well as to society, that result from not dealing openly
with probable causes of melatonin decline, are enormous and
tragic!!!
I simply refuse to accept the "lame excuse" that "underlying cause
of this deficit was unknown. I do believe that "the cause" was
more likely than not "deliberately excluded" from the
study........
Best wishes to everyone for "a better
tomorrow....." Joanne
Joanne C. Mueller
Guinea Pigs R Us
731 - 123rd Avenue N.W.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55448-2127 USA
Phone: 763-755-6114
Email:
jcmpelican@aol.com
(5-28-07)
All truth goes through three stages: first it is ridiculed:
then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self
evident. - Schopenhauer
"The things that will
destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without
conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business
without morality; science without humanity........"
--Mahatma
Gandhi
Abnormal melatonin synthesis in autism spectrum disorders.
- Melke J,
- Goubran Botros H,
- Chaste P,
- Betancur C,
- Nygren G,
- Anckarsater H,
- Rastam M,
- Stahlberg O,
- Gillberg IC,
- Delorme R,
- Chabane N,
- Mouren-Simeoni MC,
- Fauchereau F,
- Durand CM,
- Chevalier F,
- Drouot X,
- Collet C,
- Launay JM,
- Leboyer M,
- Gillberg C,
- Bourgeron T.
1Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions,
Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Melatonin is produced in the dark by the pineal
gland and is a key regulator of circadian and seasonal rhythms. A low
melatonin level has been reported in individuals with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD), but the underlying cause of this deficit was unknown.
The ASMT gene, encoding the last enzyme of melatonin synthesis, is
located on the pseudo-autosomal region 1 of the sex chromosomes,
deleted in several individuals with ASD. In this study, we sequenced
all ASMT exons and promoters in individuals with ASD (n=250) and
compared the allelic frequencies with controls (n=255).
Non-conservative variations of ASMT were identified, including a
splicing mutation present in two families with ASD, but not in
controls. Two polymorphisms located in the promoter (rs4446909 and
rs5989681) were more frequent in ASD compared to controls (P=0.0006)
and were associated with a dramatic decrease in ASMT transcripts in
blood cell lines (P=2 x 10(-10)). Biochemical analyses performed on
blood platelets and/or cultured cells revealed a highly significant
decrease in ASMT activity (P=2 x 10(-12)) and melatonin level (P=3 x
10(-11)) in individuals with ASD. These results indicate that a low
melatonin level, caused by a primary deficit in ASMT activity, is a
risk factor for ASD. They also support ASMT as a susceptibility gene
for ASD and highlight the crucial role of melatonin in human cognition
and behavior.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 15 May
2007; doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4002016.
PMID: 17505466 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17505466&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
