Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting armor in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, she detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules called cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.
These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a response is needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported another team.

The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood, that perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production in the brain is altered."

Cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism. child-autism-parent-cafe.com

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