Genesis of an ASD Brain 31However, the human brain is uniquely vulnerable in the area of the regenera
tion pattern of neurons, hence our notion that the genetic mutations associ
ated with ASD are not the cause of ASD. However, the most important point in
that during early fetal brain development, loss or untimely degeneration of
certain progenitor cells can result in a permanent loss of associated faculties.
The body has an enormous capacity to heal itself, but there are exceptions, and
the loss of specific types of progenitor cells or mother neurons accompanying
early fetal brain growth and differentiation can be permanent and life chang
ing. Avoidance of exposure to chemicals that have the capacity to bind highly
specialized progenitor cells is particularly crucial during early fetal develop
ment. Why is it pertinent to explore such an argument? If one analyzes with
just the simplest logic, the importance of the point becomes clear. Fragrances
are designed to bind to specific odor neurons. As a matter of fact, all fragrances
and food emit chemicals that bind adult human neurons, which facilitates the
sense of smell. Fragrances (perfumes in particular) reach our blood stream due
to their capacity to be absorbed via skin and inhalation, and this is by design.
Once these chemicals enter the blood stream, even when highly diluted, they
can still reach the brain of developing fetal brain neurons. If they bind only a
few specific neurons, these neurons suffer spontaneous death. This concept
has been proven to be a fact both in a recent report published in Science [106]
and in findings of our research group (see below and Chapter 3 for details).
Genesis of an ASD Brain
Of course, the most dangerous stage of fetal brain development is the loss of
specific progenitor cells that subsequently causes damage to complex human
faculties and leads to aberrant behaviors linked to the ASD spectrum. If a
large number of progenitor cells is lost in the very early stages of gestation,
notably during the first 5–8 weeks of pregnancy, this may precipitate brain
death, resulting in loss of the whole fetus through naturally occurring sponta
neous abortion (i.e., miscarriage). In 97% of cases, the fetus develops fully but
in 3% of cases the newborn has some type of mutation. It is estimated that
perhaps 50% of pregnancies, many so early as to be unrecognized by the
woman involved, are lost due to a variety of reasons that result in early miscar
riages. This is nature’s way of keeping a healthy population. If only a few pro
genitor cell types are lost at a later stage in the pregnancy, about 8–14 weeks
of gestation, then the fetus may be born at full term with perhaps the loss of
certain brain faculties but with also the enlargement of others. This is due to
the fact that when a certain progenitor cell type is lost, it creates a mechanical
and physical vacuum that needs to be filled, and in this case another pro
genitor cell will grow into that newly created space and perhaps grow at a
slightly faster replication rate, resulting in enlargement of certain brain