Autism Therapy: glutamate

definition of glutamate: Amino acid that is found throughout the body and is present in many proteins. Glutamate is also important in metabolism, the chemical process that generates energy in the body, and functions as a neurotransmitter that can turn on or trigger signals in neurons.

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Memantine: A Comprehensive Review of Safety and Efficacy
Expert Opinion, by Kavirajan, H., published in 2009, summarized Dec 21, 2009

Memantine may be helpful for people with moderate-to-severe autism disorders.

The glutamate pathway may be out of balance in brains of people with autism. Memantine is a medication that reduces certain brain activities by blocking glutamate receptors in the brain. Two clinical trials of memantine in people with autism had different results. One trial reported that memantine was helpful for improving language and social interactions in people with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Another trial reported improvements in memory, irritability, and other behaviors for people with PDD. However, language was not affected in the second trial. Neither of these studies included a placebo control. Better studies are needed to find out if memantine may be helpful for people with autism.


Immune-Glutamatergic Dysfunction as a Central Mechanism of the Autism Spectrum Disorders
Current Medicinal Chemistry, by Blaylock, RL, and Strunecka A., published in 2009, summarized Mar 10, 2009

Vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin B12, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids may improve symptoms of autism.

Autism is a spectrum disease and research has shown that it is likely caused by many genes. This paper describes the idea that autism is caused by a problem with the glutamine chemical in the brain. The authors propose that if glutamine does not work well within the brain, then microglia cells in the brain may become active and secrete many factors that can harm the brain. These factors may then cause symptoms of autism in people who are at genetic risk for autism. Treatment approaches would include use of supplements and reduction of processed foods that have additives that contain glutamate and aspartate.

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE EXCITOTOXICITY:
Methylcobalamin (vitamin B12)
Pyridoxal-5 phosphate (vitamin B6)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)
Vitamin C (buffered)
CoQ10
Acetyl-L-carnitine
Alpha-lipoic acid
Magnesium glycinate or lactate
Zinc
Flavonoids

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE MICROGLIAL ACTIVATION:
Ibupropen
Mincycline
Ferulic acid
DHEA
Curcumin
Quercetin
Silymarin
Baicalein
Resveratrol
DHA/EPA


A Systematic Review of Off-Label Uses of Memantine for Psychiatric Disorders
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, by Zdanys, K., and Tampi RR, published in 2008, summarized Sep 11, 2008

While memantine may help with some of the problem behaviors associated with autism, more research is needed.

This review article describes the use of the brain drug memantine to treat pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Memantine acts on the brain chemical glutamate, which is known to be involved in brain growth. Some genetic studies point to glutamate as having a role in autism. Memantine drug therapy may be most helpful with regards to routines and rituals that are observed in some people with autism. The authors found five open label studies and one case report on the use of memantine to treat autism in children and adults.


Glutamate Antagonists Seem to be Slightly Effective in Psychopharmacologic Treatment of Autism
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, by Niederhofer, H., published in 2007, summarized Jun 21, 2007

Memantine therapy may help people with autism.

Drugs such as memantine are normally used to treat Alzheimer'??s disease (cholinergic drugs). This is a small report on the use of memantine therapy in four patients (children and adults) with autism. The patients received 20 mg memantine daily for four weeks. Patients did not seem to have headaches or stomachaches. The author found that treatment with memantine helped the patients feel less irritable.


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Biomedical Treatments

Oct 25, 2006 by Anonymous

My daughter has improved enormously on a specific protocol of supplements, detoxification, and gf/cf, soy free, glutamate free, low sugar diet. It is not idiopathic as she regressed after 165 mcg of thimerosal. She is now being treated for toxic encephalopathy, gut dysbiosis, an inability to excrete heavy metals, immune dysfunction, and food intolerances.

I see nothing on this site about many autistic children having immune and gut dysfunction, nor any studies about inflammation at all.

Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning.
Medical Hypothesis, 2001.
Sallie Bernard, Albert Enyati, Lynn Redwood, RN, Teresa Binstock, PhD.

Comparison of Blood and Brain Mercury Levels in Infant Monkeys Exposed to Methylmercury or Vaccines Containing Thimerosal.
Environmental Health Perspectives, Aug 2005.

Thimerosal Neurotoxicity is Associated with Glutathione Depletion: Protection with Glutathione Precursors.
Neurotoxicology, Jan 2005.
S. Jill James, PhD [University of Arkansas].

Large Brains in Autism: The Challenge of Pervasive Abnormality.
The Neuroscientist, Volume 11, Number 5, 2005.
Martha Herbert, MD, PhD [Harvard University].

Neurotoxic Effects of Postnatal Thimerosal are Mouse Strain Dependent.
Molecular Psychiatry, Sep 2004.
Mady Hornig, MD [Columbia University].

Activation of Methionine Synthase by Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 and Dopamine: a Target for Neurodevelopmental Toxins and Thimerosal.
Molecular Psychiatry, July 2004.
Richard C. Deth, PhD [Northeastern University].

Neuroglial Activation and Neuroinflammation in the Brain of Patients with Autism.
Annals of Neurology, Feb 2005.
Diana L. Vargas, MD [Johns Hopkins University].

Reduced Levels of Mercury in First Baby Haircuts of Autistic Children
International Journal of Toxicology
Dr. Amy S. Holmes, Mark F. Blaxill, Boyd E. Haley, Ph.D.
March 14, 2003

Dysregulated Innate Immune Responses in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Their Relationship to Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Dietary Intervention.
Neuropsychobiology, 2005.
Harumi Jyonouchi, MD [New Jersey Medical School].

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    • Synonyms for glutamate include: L-Glutamine
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