Severe autism can be reversed and symptoms reduced to an indistinguishable level, scientists have discovered.
Two non-identical twin girls in the US were found to have a level of autism at 20 months old that required “very substantial support”.
A groundbreaking trial saw their parents and a team of medical experts create a bespoke two-year programme of interventions designed to help the children thrive and flourish as much as possible.
Scientists say the programme was successful, with both girls undergoing “dramatic improvements” in the severity of their symptoms.
The progress of one of the girls, described only as Twin P, was heralded as “a kind of miracle” by one of the paediatricians. Twin P scored a 43 out of 180 on the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist scale in March 2022 and this was reduced to just four by October 2023.
“One of the twins’ symptoms were reversed to the point of being indistinguishable from children who had never had a history of autism symptoms,” Dr Chris D’Adamo, study author from the University of Maryland, told The Telegraph.
“This twin’s functions are comparable to those who never had an autism diagnosis.”
The other girl, known as Twin L, had more severe autism aged 20 months, scoring 76, and this was reduced to 32 a year and a half later.
“[This twin] improved dramatically, but not quite as much,” said Dr D’Adamo.
Improvements unlikely to be undone
The scientists do not use the term “cure”, but believe the improvements are unlikely to be undone over time.
“Because autism is a developmental condition, one can safely say that once they have overcome the developmental aspects of autism and returned to a typical developmental trajectory, they are very unlikely to exhibit the common symptoms of autism again,” said Dr D’Adamo.
“Symptoms that could return might be more along the lines of things like anxiety, gastrointestinal issues, sensory issues, but not necessarily the behavioural aspects of autism.”
The twins underwent behavioural analysis, speech therapy and a strict gluten-free diet and nutrition programme as part of the trial to reduce inflammation.
The diet was casein-free, a protein found in milk; low-sugar; had no artificial colours or dyes; zero ultra-processed foods; primarily organic; and locally sourced.
The girls were also given daily supplements for omega-3 fatty acids, multivitamins, vitamin D, carnitine, and others.
‘No singular cure to reverse symptoms’
Writing in the study, published in the MDPI journal Sexes, the anonymous parents said they knew there would not be a “singular cure” to reverse the symptoms and instead the programme focused on alleviating the “total load” on the children.
“Despite sharing similar genes and identical conception, gestation, birth experience, and post-natal factors – as well as benefiting from consistent nurture, home environment and family dynamics – each daughter presented an ASD diagnosis entirely uniquely,” they write.
“Conventional statistics have stacked the odds against the ability to recover a child from an ASD diagnosis.
“Our approach was therefore focused on following a nonconventional, holistic understanding of each daughter’s individual needs, exploring root cause and designing customised support.
“We committed to being highly involved in all the interventions we explored, educating ourselves and advocating for what we felt was best for our children.
“Most importantly, our experience as parents has been the desire to create and maintain a profound and loving bond with each of our daughters – and to remain parents, not practitioners.
“Through this approach, we have witnessed the radical recovery of one daughter – who presents today as a joyful, engaging, spirited, extremely bright four-year-old.
“We remain steadfast in our support for our other daughter whose progress has also consistently amazed us and has reminded us that recovery is possible at each person’s individual pace.”
The case study is published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine.
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