Glucose and Autism: Discovering the Link to Speech Seizures Sleep and More

Recently Thinking Autism shared an excellent blog about the link between brain glucose levels and speech delays, seizures, and other challenging symptoms seen in some children on the autism spectrum. I want to ensure this message reaches all our followers, simplifying the concepts and exploring actionable steps to support our children effectively. You can read their article here. I highly recommend following and joining this outstanding charity, which goes above and beyond to advocate for our children’s equal rights and access to healthcare, addressing critical topics that often go unspoken.

Understanding the Brain’s Fuel: Glucose

Think of your child’s brain as a high-performance engine that needs constant, high-quality fuel to run. This fuel is glucose, a type of sugar derived from the food we eat. Glucose is essential for producing ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of our cells. Without adequate glucose, our brains can’t function properly, much like a car that struggles to run without enough petrol​.

The Role of Glycogen: The Brain’s Emergency Storage

Glycogen acts as a reserve fuel tank for your child’s high-performance brain engine. For children on the autism spectrum, this reserve is even more critical. Glycogen stores extra glucose for when the body needs it, especially during everyday activities and growth spurts. This storage ensures the brain can keep functioning even when glucose levels drop, supporting cognitive functions, behaviour regulation, and overall neurological health​.

What Happens When the Brain Runs Low on Fuel?

Imagine driving a car with a fuel line that has multiple kinks and blockages—only a trickle of fuel gets through. Similarly, if there’s not enough glucose reaching the brain, it can’t perform its functions efficiently. This can result from various factors, including genetic conditions, early life infections, or issues with glucose transport. For children, disrupted glucose and glycogen metabolism can lead to fatigue, seizures, memory problems, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and difficulties with speech and social interaction​.

Aggression in Autism: The Blood Glucose Connection

When the fuel supply to a child’s high-performance brain engine becomes erratic, it often manifests as aggression. Autistic children are particularly prone to these fuel inconsistencies, leading to metabolic disturbances more common in this population than in the general population. This makes them more vulnerable to insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, obesity, and diabetes, further disrupting glucose metabolism in the brain. Imagine trying to drive a high-performance car with unreliable fuel delivery; it lurches and struggles to maintain speed. Similarly, low glucose levels mean the brain lacks the energy to manage self-control and cognitive functions effectively. This energy deficit undermines self-control, leading to increased anger, frustration, and hostility. However, managing blood glucose levels through a balanced diet and medical interventions can stabilise these energy supplies, reducing aggression and improving overall well-being. Ensuring a steady, reliable fuel supply helps maintain emotional and cognitive stability, promoting more peaceful and controlled behaviour patterns.

Measuring Brain Glucose Levels

To get a clearer picture, measuring brain glucose levels can be invaluable. One of the best tests for this is Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET scans use a small amount of radioactive glucose to create detailed images of how glucose is metabolized in the brain. This can help doctors pinpoint areas with abnormal glucose consumption, providing insights into metabolic activity and potential issues.

I know the idea of using a radioactive compound will be off putting for many parents so here are several other methods can also assess brain glucose levels and metabolism:

• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS): A non-invasive technique that measures brain metabolites, including glucose, providing insight into brain chemistry without radiation exposure.
• Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis: Direct measurement of glucose levels, which can indicate metabolic issues, though CSF collection is invasive.
• Functional MRI (fMRI): Primarily measures brain activity through blood flow, indirectly reflecting glucose metabolism since active brain regions consume more glucose.
• Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS): Measures cerebral blood flow and oxygenation, correlating with glucose metabolism, and is non-invasive and portable.
• Glucose Tolerance Tests combined with Neurocognitive Assessments: Illustrate how blood glucose fluctuations impact brain function, useful for understanding conditions like diabetes and hypoglycaemia.

Discussing these options with a neurologist or paediatrician is essential for determining the most appropriate approach for your child’s needs.

 

 

Practical Solutions: What Can We Do?

Ketogenic Diet: An Alternative Energy Source

One promising approach is the ketogenic diet, which shifts the body’s primary fuel source from glucose to ketones, produced from fats. Ketones provide a steady energy supply for the brain and have shown promise in reducing seizures and potentially improving cognitive functions and behaviour. This diet could be particularly beneficial if your child’s brain is struggling to get enough glucose. Ketogenic diets are often monitored by dieticians within the NHS or private practice. In many cases, switching to a balanced, highly nutritious low-carbohydrate diet may be sufficient. This is the basis of the Brainstorm Health 30-Day Body Reset Diet which we would be happy to discuss with you. Book a free chat with one of our Brainstorm Health Practitioners.

A promising alternative to a ketogenic diet is K Vita, used in drug-resistant epilepsy. This blend of medium-chain fatty acids (decanoic acid – C10 and octanoic acid – C8) at a ratio of 80:20 (C10:C8) may help. Consult your neurologist about this option. More information is available on the K Vita website.

Supplements: Boosting Brain Energy

Creatine, a supplement popular among athletes, helps manage energy stores and supports brain function. Think of creatine as a turbocharger for the brain, enhancing its energy efficiency. It supports glucose regulation and has neuroprotective properties, helping to prevent glutamate toxicity, which is crucial for reducing seizures. Other supplements like arginine, taurine, beta-alanine and MCT oil also show potential benefits for brain health.

Creatine:

• Creatine has neuroprotective benefits and can help in managing conditions like epilepsy by supporting glucose and glycogen regulation in the brain. It has been shown to reduce glutamate toxicity, which can be beneficial in preventing seizures​.

Arginine:

• Arginine, an amino acid, plays a crucial role in brain health by promoting blood vessel relaxation and improving blood flow, which can enhance overall brain function. It has been used to reduce the severity and frequency of stroke-like episodes in mitochondrial disorders, indicating its potential benefits in managing neurological issues​

Taurine:

• Taurine is known for its role in stabilising cell membranes and regulating neurotransmitters in the brain. It has been shown to have anti-convulsant properties, making it a valuable supplement for seizure management​.

Beta-Alanine:

• Beta-alanine is a precursor to carnosine, which acts as an antioxidant in the brain. While its direct effects on seizure management are less documented, its overall neuroprotective properties can support brain health and potentially mitigate some symptoms associated with metabolic deficiencies​.

MCT (Medium-Chain Triglycerides):

• MCTs are fats that are metabolised differently than most fats, providing a quick source of energy for the brain. They have been shown to support cognitive function and are particularly beneficial for individuals with neurological conditions.

Research supports the use of creatine in children with conditions involving creatine deficiencies, which can lead to speech delay and other neurological issues. Cerebral Creatine Deficiency Syndromes (CCDS) are metabolic disorders affecting the body’s ability to produce or transport creatine. Children with CCDS often present with intellectual delays, speech and language delays, autistic-like behaviour, and seizures. Treatment with creatine monohydrate has significantly improved outcomes in children with certain types of CCDS, such as AGAT (L-Arginine Aminotransferase) deficiency.

Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD) lacks a proven treatment, but studies suggest that oral creatine supplementation can be beneficial for children with creatine synthesis deficiencies. In conditions like AGAT and GAMT (Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase) deficiencies, creatine supplementation has led to improvements in symptoms, including speech delays and seizure control.

Research continues to explore the broader use of creatine in paediatric populations for various neurological conditions. Consulting with healthcare providers is essential to determine the suitability and safety of creatine supplementation for your child’s specific needs.

The Role of Resistant Starch in Supporting Sleep

Many of the children we see in our practice with brain glucose metabolism issues often wake up multiple time throughout the night. DR. Richard Kelley from the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute has come up with a simple solution which work for some children. He suggests using uncooked cornstarch before bedtime to manage frequent nighttime wakings. This resistant starch is slowly digested, providing a gradual release of glucose over several hours, effectively shortening the fasting period overnight and helping to maintain stable blood glucose levels.

Steps You Can Take

• Partner with Healthcare Providers: Consult your child’s doctor or a specialist in metabolic disorders. They can run the necessary tests to diagnose any glucose or creatine deficiencies and help develop a personalised plan. This might include dietary changes, supplements, and monitoring protocols. Professional guidance is crucial for the safety and effectiveness of any new interventions.
• Implement Strategic Dietary Changes: If a ketogenic diet isn’t suitable for your child, consider adopting a low glycaemic index (GI) diet. Foods with a low GI are digested more slowly, leading to a gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream, helping to maintain stable energy levels throughout the day. Contact us for more information on the Brainstorm Health 30 Day Body Reset Diet.
• Monitor and Manage Glucose Levels: Keeping track of your child’s glucose levels is essential, especially if they have conditions like insulin resistance, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, or diabetes. Regular monitoring can help you understand how their diet affects their blood sugar and energy levels. This information is vital for adjusting their dietary plan to better suit their needs and prevent potential health issues.
• Explore Supplement Options: Beyond creatine, consider discussing other supplements with your healthcare provider. Arginine, taurine, and beta-alanine have shown potential benefits for brain health and seizure management. These supplements can support overall neurological function and might be particularly beneficial in managing symptoms related to energy metabolism deficiencies.
• Educate and Empower Yourself: Stay informed about the latest research and treatment options. Joining support groups or networks for parents of children with similar conditions can provide valuable insights and emotional support. Sharing experiences and strategies can be incredibly empowering and help you navigate your child’s journey more effectively.
• Focus on Holistic Health: Ensure your child gets adequate sleep, regular physical activity, and stress management. A holistic approach to health can improve overall well-being and support the effectiveness of dietary and supplemental interventions. Simple activities like a consistent bedtime routine, engaging in physical play, and mindfulness exercises can make a significant difference.

 

Conclusion

Understanding and addressing these energy issues can significantly help our children. It’s a journey, and each piece of the puzzle brings us closer to better supporting our children. We’re in this together, learning and supporting each other every step of the way. By taking informed, practical steps, we can help our children thrive. Stay strong, stay hopeful, and remember, you are not alone. Together, we can make a difference.

 

IMPORTANT

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is crucial to consult with medical doctors or qualified functional medicine practitioners to address specific health concerns and obtain personalised guidance tailored to individual needs. Never add any supplements to your plan until it has been assessed and approved by your medical doctor or suitable qualified practitioner who is familiar with your health history. 

 

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