The prevalence for autism in children has been rising exponentially since the 2000s. This is an incredibly devastating statistic due to the implications.
With the global economy looking so gloomy, it means that less and less parents are able to provide their autistic children with the right care without getting fired from their jobs due to absences.
The result is an even gloomier economic landscape. It is a vicious cycle. CBD could very well be the chink in that cycle if the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem comes back with good news in 2019.
Current Autism Treatments: More Harm than Good
Apart from the above ongoing trial, there is very little scientific evidence as to the effectiveness of marijuana for autism.
All there is now is anecdotal evidence and management of the accompanying conditions.
The current therapies for autism include some very harsh antipsychotics. And these antipsychotics have some very severe side effects like increased vulnerability to seizures.
In fact, it has been found that 30% of the children with autism have or will develop epilepsy.
Early Detection of Autism
Autism is called a spectrum because it affects different people at varying degrees.
Some are high functioning placing them at the higher end of the spectrum with milder symptoms, while others are very low on the spectrum with inability to function without help.
This condition is characterized by difficulties in social situations, communication challenges and repetitive behavior.
Autism starts to rear its head early at 12-18 months when the baby is developing social skills. You will notice that the baby rarely responds to his or her name.
They have no interest in human beings and the babbling stage is delayed.
By the time he or she becomes a toddler they become even more of a recluse. They do not imitate as toddlers are known to do and will shy away from social games.
The symptoms worsen with age until a diagnosis is done and management regimen developed.
By the time your child is around five years old, they become aggressive and violent because they have trouble seeing different points of view as they should.
To the outside judgmental eye, it seems like bratty misbehavior.
Less than 20% of autistic adults are able to live independently. You will have trouble developing and maintaining acquaintances.
The tests for diagnosis of autism at this late stage can be quite unreliable.
This write up is going to focus more on the children than the adults. With early detection and management, there will be less and less autistic adults to worry about.
Synaptic Pruning
According to one study, autism is brought by abundance of synapses, these are your brain cell connections.
As you progress in age, these synapses undergo a process called synaptic pruning.
Pruning is necessary as it gets rid of the unnecessary connections in an effort to leave room for the streamlining of neural circuits.
Pruning happens through another neuroprocess called autophagy.
Autophagy is a form of apoptosis, and it is dubbed Type 2 programmed cell death.
The word itself translates into self-eating, and a study found that children with autism had damaged brain cells and a deficiency in autophagy pathways.
Autophagy is made possible by elements called autophagosomes.
A study found evidence that marijuana turned a soluble form of these elements into a lapidated form which is considered the hallmark for autophagy.
This means that indeed, synaptic pruning can be made possible by interaction of marijuana to activate the CB1 receptor.
The problematic areas in the brain in autistic people are those in which the CB1 receptors are in plenty like the hippocampus.
The CB1 receptor interacts with the phytocannabinoid THC and anandamide.
An Impaired Endocannabinoid System
A 2013 animal study found that the endocannbinoid system (ECS) may be impaired by autism.
The same study also found that the same system could be involved in the development of autism. Thus, the ECS is a viable avenue for autism management.
In 2015, an investigation was carried out into the reason behind social and behavioral issues.
Anandamide works with the CB1 receptor to produce the reward response thus making social interactions pleasant.
In autistic people, it was found that the communication system in this interaction was broken thus the problems being faced.
If this connection can be enhanced by use of phytocannabinoids, it is possible to abate the social and behavioral issues of autistic patients.
Unfortunately, without dedicated and specialized research this is all just speculation. It is not enough to have the FDA approve a CBD autism drug, which is the immediate need.
The GABA Approach
Another approach to the subject is through the GABA neurotransmitter.
Studies have linked autistic hypersensitivity to stimuli to insufficient or malformed neurotransmitter action. CBD has been found to enhance excitory and inhibitory brain functions effectively.
It is able to fill both positions as required due to the assigned duty of maintaining homeostasis.
Development of autism come with other conditions that will make life that much harder.
The first being insomnia.
CBD can be used to enhance awareness during the day so that the person can have a more restful and better quality of sleep in the evening.
You can also sprinkle in a bit of THC in the evening to increase drowsiness and a longer deeper sleep, while enjoying the entourage effect.
Good quality sleep would go a long way in curbing the aggression exhibited by preteens.
Additional Complications Due to Autism
Seizures
It has not been adequately established whether the increased prevalence of seizures is caused by the medication or autism itself. It could even be a combination of both.
As evidence by the Charlotte’s Web story, marijuana is incredibly effective in the abatement and prevention of seizures.
This is good news especially for children. Especially since seizures can worsen the neurodevelopmental problem by inducing degeneration.
Gastrointestinal Issues
The gut is home to numerous CBD friendly receptors.
This is relevant incase the autistic patient joins the large percentage of autistic people who suffer from gastrointestinal issues.
The drugs are especially harsh in this respect. If washed down with some CBD that could allow the medication to work without causing too much of an inconvenience.
CBD Dosage for Autistic Patients
As mentioned before, research into CBD for the management of autism is still ongoing.
This means that there are no established dosages for CBD in regards to autism, so developing a dosage level is a trial and error process.
You have to find a dosage that works well for your child.
The current anecdotal evidence outlines that there is need for a sprinkling of THC. However, if a child is the patient it is okay to rely on CBD alone.
Most parents reported infusing CBD in their child’s food or simply just putting a drop of CBD oil under their tongue a few times a day.
Inconsequential Consequences in the Face of Probable Relief
Parents have reported noting difference in behavior and general health within two weeks.
Whereas the antipsychotic medication typically prescribed makes the patient weak and zombie like.
CBD brings on more focus, better grasp of new concepts and even better understanding of language. With the use of CBD, parents have noted the decreased need for support medication like anticonvulsants.
The process to reverse autism effects begins and the patient can enjoy increased social interaction, academic achievements and even improved cognitive abilities.
Due to these amazing abilities that were previously unthought-of, parents have joined forces to get more research and trials in the works.
For the first time in years, autistic children have a shot at being regular kids who only throw tantrums to frustrate their moms thanks to the power of cannabidiol (CBD).
