These changes ultimately lead to life-long disturbances of higher mental functions such as learning, memory, communication, social interaction, etc. I believe that autism can be treated successfully using some of the therapies proven effective in treating other autoimmune diseases. I emphasize the need to focus on immunotherapies, and I urge doctors to examine autoimmunity as a novel target on which to focus in treating autistic patients. There is enormous potential for restoring brain function in autistic children and adults through immunology. Autoimmunity is an abnormal immune reaction in which the immune system becomes primed to react against body organs, and the end result is autoimmune disease.
Several factors contribute to the pathogenic mechanism of autoimmune diseases.
Autism involves a gender factor, i.e., it affects males about four times more than females. Autism often occurs in conjunction with a family history of autoimmune diseases, e.g., multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Autism also involves hormonal factors, e.g., secretin, beta-endorphin, etc. Autism shows an association with infectious agents, in particular viruses. Autistic patients have immune abnormalities, especially those that characterize an autoimmune reaction in a disease.