Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) and Autism

Recent advances in magnetic therapy are providing new treatment options for patients suffering from autism through the use of pulsed electromagnet field therapy (PEMF) specifically by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

This new and experimental PTSD and autism treatment is proving to have life changing applications.

Research has long since proven that autistic children exhibit behavioral responses similar to that of dolphins.

Following similar logic, it was believed that immersion into sea water would result in a “grounding” effect on children.

There was also evidence leading to possibilities of inter-species communication.

The combination of two effects has great potential, almost miraculous, but still remains unproven.

This niche field of research has yet to receive significant funding or support from the scientific community.

PEMF therapy and rTMS do not display the same “grounding” effects as underwater submersion, but the combination does create significant synergistic results similar to “grounding”.

Related research suggests that PEMF therapy and rTMS, when applied in combination with earthing and grounding systems, could lead to enhanced performance in autistic children.

Recent years have shown increased interest in the use of rTMS as a therapy tool for those suffering from autism.

It is believed that even better results can be achieved through the home use of PEMF.

Home use would allow sessions to be reduced in intensity and duration but increased in frequency, thus providing effective results at a far lower cost to patients.

2014 was a particularly strong year in terms of PEMF research.

The following articles show a rapid increase in autistic incident studies, however, research in the field is still lacking.

Several of the following articles refer to PTSD but include information that is highly relatable to the parents of autistic children.

International Review of Psychiatry

This study of the applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in children and adolescents showing TMS to be a new treatment and valuable research tool for psychiatric disorders.

The most recent rTMS trials have been focused on depression in adolescents.

Related work involves treatments for ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia.

Studies focused on single and paired-pulse TMS systems which target cortical excitability and inhibition.

The field related to TMS in children and adolescent psychiatry is still undeveloped.

This review intends to provide an overview of TMS and direct discussions towards therapeutic and neurophysiological research, while also considering ethical factors.

Brain Stimulation

This article highlights repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as it relates to movement and the cortical potential for those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Common implications of those suffering from ASD include impairment of motor functions.

Recent studies in the field of electrophysiological abnormalities show these impairments to relate to the preparation of movement, where rTMS could target key motor sites and has potential to improve motor function in ASD.

The study involved eleven participants, all suffering from ASD.

Over the course of three sessions, each patient was administered one of three rTMS conditions.

Movement function as assessed before and after rTMS was applied.

Research showed that rTMS appears to improve movement related activity and could influence cortical processes.

Journal of ECT

A study conducted at the Monash Alfred Psychiatric Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia found attempted to determine if deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation led to improved social function in young women with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Researchers noted that there are no current biomedical treatments that target the core symptoms of ASD and tested if rTMS could be a potential therapy device.

A young woman with high-functioning ASD was the subject of a new type of rTMS and deep rTMS targeting the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex.

TMS was applied for 15 minutes over 9 separate sessions.

Self-assessments were reported before the first session, after each session, and one month following the trial.

Results show a number of improvements after deep TMS in both social relating and interpersonal understanding.

Researchers concluded that deep rTMS may be a useful treatment in ASD specifically in cortical dysfunctions.

Deep rTMS may also have potential with biomedical treatments for those with impaired social relating.

Journal of Neurotherapy

The Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurology at the University of Louisville in Kentucky conducted research with individuals suffering from ASD who have abnormal reactions to sensory environments.

Research has shown that gamma band activity in the range of 30-80 Hz is a physiological indicator of cortical cell activation, where cortical cells process visual stimuli.

Additional studies have found that altering gamma band power may decrease the inhibitory processes and increase cortical excitation.

25 subjects with ASD were investigated with around 100ms of gamma power using 20 age-matched controls and Kanizsa figures.

Subjects were tested over a period of 12 sessions of rTMS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using randomized controls.

Results showed that evoked gamma activity did not depend on the type of stimulus.

Researchers concluded that ‘slow’ rTMS may provoke increased cortical inhibition in the early stages of visual processing.

Researchers believe rTMS has potential to be an effective therapeutic tool for ASD patients, especially treating the core symptoms of ASD without side effects.

Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Science at the University of Louisville in Kentucky proceeded to follow up a study on abnormalities of attention orientation and event-related potential (ERP).

The study focused on the effects of low-frequency rTMS on novelty processing and behavioral and social functioning in ASD patients.

Researchers believed that rTMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFPC) would result in the alteration of cortical inhibitory and excitement responses.

Results show that low-frequency rTMS is a valid tool that alters the ratio of excitation and inhibition in ADS patients.

rTMS minimized cortical responses to irrelevant stimuli while having the opposite effect and increasing response to relevant stimuli.

Preliminary results show that rTMS has potential to be a valuable research tool and possible treatment for ASD suffers, specifically those with hypersensitivity characteristics.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2009)

Another study from the University of Louisville focused on the effects of rTMS on gamma frequency oscillations and ERP while processing illusory figures.

With previous studies indicating that ASD is typically characterized by a disturbance in cortical modularity, this study proposed to use rTMS as a way of increasing the surround inhibition of minicolumns.

13 patients with ASD and an equal number of controls were tested with repetitive TMS set at 0.5Hz, twice a week for a period of 3 weeks.

Results showed that event-related potential (ERP), gamma activity, and behavioral measures all had significant improvement post-TMS.

Researchers believe the results suggest rTMS could be a potential therapy treatment for autism.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2012)

The Department of Radiology at the University of Washington attempted to test proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and its effect on brain mitochondrial dysfunction in children suffering from autism.

HMRS and MRI were used to assess the brain in longitudinal samples in children with ASD.

239 studies from 130 different participants were tested.

Researchers concluded that there was no evidence of HMRS and MRI on brain mitochondrial dysfunction in children.

Their findings did not support a substantial role in mitochondrial abnormalities or the expression of ASD.

There was also no support for the use of hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which is widespread, and commonly recommended on the basis of this relationship.

Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy

Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington conducted research into patients with Dravet syndrome to determine if SCN1A mutations could also express the mitochondrial disease.

A retrospective chart review was used to determine clinical, biochemical testing, neuroimaging, gene sequencing, and EKG results from patients with both mitochondrial disease and Dravet syndrome.

Researchers found that two children exhibited pathological mutations in the SCN1A gene and dysfunctions in their electron transport chain activity.

Both subjects developed febrile and afebrile seizures with an overall neurocognitive decline.

Patient 1 had more difficulty controlling seizures and had stronger signs of autism.

Patient 2 has less severe seizures and did not exhibit signs of autism.

Researchers concluded that treatment for seizures is different and the possibility of co-morbid mitochondrial disease and Dravet syndrome must first be ruled out before applying further treatments.

Varied treatments must be account for as liver failure and death is possible with complete medical diagnostic being performed.

Molecular Psychiatry Journal

The International Child Development Resource Center based in Melbourne, Florida conducted a review of research trends in physiological abnormalities in ASD patients including: immune system irregularities, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and environmental exposure related problems.

The study began with comprehensive research from literature from 1971 to 2010.

The research was focused on three objectives: differentiating between physiological and ASD abnormalities, determining strength of evidence on a valid scale, and comparing data with modern trends in neuroimaging and neurology.

The review found that research in ASD, while sparse at first, grew significantly over the last twenty years with the majority of data being collected in the last five years.

Evaluation of the trends showed that the largest growth in research was related to immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, environment toxicity exposure, genetics, and neuroimaging.

Researchers did note that publication bias may account for the trends in data and recommend that further research into the field of physiological areas could contribute to developments in ASD and other psychiatric disorders.

Biological Trace Element Research

A study of 19 autistic Omani children, all within the same age range, was conducted to identify oxidative stress markers.

Blood was drawn from each subject and plasma was separated.

Oxidative stress indicators such as nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and others were identified.

These stress markers have a strong relation to cellular injury and mitochondrial dysfunction in ASD patients.

Results indicate that oxidative stress may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD, but further studies are required.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA

Researchers attempted to determine the relationship between tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and giant cells with organellar dysfunction.

The team found that vacuolated giant cells showed several signs of organellar dysfunction including increased mitochondria, aberrant lysosomes, and increase cell stress.

Postnatal rapamycin treatment reversed these signs and prevented epilepsy and premature death.

Researchers believe this model may have uses for epilepsy control in patients with TSC.

Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A study from the University of California Davis School of Medicine focused on FMR1 premutation and molecular mechanisms related to autism.

Many of these genes are important for synaptic development and mutations are linked with ADS.

RNA toxicity can also lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and many of the problems associated with mutations with and without FXTAS.

Preliminary results suggest that new targeted treatments may be useful in non-fragile X forms of ASD.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2011)

Authors of a paper suggesting that proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and MRI has no evidence on brain mitochondrial dysfunction in children respond to recent criticism.

The authors delve into further considerations in regard to their assessment of mitochondrial dysfunction in ASD patients.

They go on to discuss related treatments.

Molecular Neurobiology

Researchers suggest that calcium (ca(2+)) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ASD.

Post-mortem studies indicate that autistic brains have abnormalities in mitochondrial function.

The team reviews the physiological role of AGC1 and its connection with calcium and autism pathogenesis.

Medical Science Monitor

L-carnitine was tested as a potential treatment for patients with ASD.

30 ASD subjects were randomly assigned 50mg of L-carnitine/kg of bodyweight per day.

Results show significant improvements in CARS, CGI, and ATEC scores.

Researchers believe there to be a strong correlation between L-carnitine therapy and ASD severity, but note that further studies are required.