Replies

Mercury Poisoning - Autism (top Mercury symptom, bottom Autism ---I don't know how to post a table)

Psychiatric
Mercury - Social deficits, shyness, social withdrawal
Autism - Social deficits, social withdrawal, shyness

Disturbances
M- Depression, mood swings; mask face
A- Depressive traits, mood swings; flat affect

M - Anxiety
A - Anxiety

Schizoid tendencies, OCD traits
Schizophrenic & OCD traits; repetitiveness

Lacks eye contact, hesitant to engage others
Lack of eye contact, avoids conversation

Irrational fears
Irrational fears

Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums
Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums

Impaired face recognition
Impaired face recognition

Speech,
Loss of speech, failure to develop speech
Delayed language, failure to develop speech

Language &
Dysarthria; articulation problems
Dysarthria; articulation problems

Hearing
Speech comprehension deficits
Speech comprehension deficits

Deficits
Verbalizing & word retrieval problems
Echolalia; word use & pragmatic errors

Sound sensitivity
Sound sensitivity

Hearing loss; deafness in very high doses
Mild to profound hearing loss

Poor performance on language IQ tests
Poor performance on verbal IQ tests

Sensory
Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities
Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities

Abnormalities
Sound sensitivity
Sound sensitivity

Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion
Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion

Vestibular abnormalities
Vestibular abnormalities

Motor Disorders
Involuntary jerking movements – arm flapping, ankle jerks, myoclonal jerks, choreiform movements, circling, rocking
Stereotyped movements - arm flapping, jumping, circling, spinning, rocking; myoclonal jerks; choreiform movements

Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; intention tremors
Poor eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; problems with intentional movements

Gait impairment; ataxia – from incoordination & clumsiness to inability to walk, stand, or sit; loss of motor control
Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and incoordination; difficulties sitting, lying, crawling, and walking

Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Unusual postures; toe walking
Unusual postures; toe walking

Cognitive Impairments
Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - some cases reversible
Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - sometimes "recovered"

Poor concentration, attention, response inhibition
Poor concentration, attention, shifting attention

Uneven performance on IQ subtests
Uneven performance on IQ subtests

Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ
Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ

Poor short term, verbal, & auditory memory
Poor short term, auditory & verbal memory

Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, impairment in simple reaction time
Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, lower performance on timed tests

Difficulty carrying out complex commands
Difficulty carrying out multiple commands

Word-comprehension difficulties
Word-comprehension difficulties

Deficits in understanding abstract ideas & symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers
Deficits in abstract thinking & symbolism, understanding other’s mental states, sequencing, planning & organizing

(iv)

Unusual
Stereotyped sniffing (rats)
Stereotyped, repetitive behaviors

Behaviors
ADHD traits
ADHD traits

Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells
Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells

Sleep difficulties
Sleep difficulties

Eating disorders, feeding problems
Eating disorders, feeding problems

Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging
Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging

Visual
Poor eye contact, impaired visual fixation
Poor eye contact, problems in joint attention

Impairments
“Visual impairments,” blindness, near-sightedness, decreased visual acuity
“Visual impairments”; inaccurate/slow saccades; decreased rod functioning

Light sensitivity, photophobia
Over-sensitivity to light

Blurred or hazy vision
Blurred vision

Constricted visual fields
Not described

Physical Disturbances
Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypo-tonia; abnormal reflexes; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing, swallowing, salivating
Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypotonia; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing and swallowing

Rashes, dermatitis/dry skin, itching; burning
Rashes, dermatitis, eczema, itching

Autonomic disturbance: excessive sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate
Autonomic disturbance: unusual sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate

Gastro-intestinal
Gastroenteritis, diarrhea; abdominal pain, constipation, “colitis”
Diarrhea, constipation, gaseousness, abdominal discomfort, colitis

Disturbances
Anorexia, weight loss, nausea, poor appetite
Anorexia; feeding problems/vomiting

Lesions of ileum & colon; increased gut permeability
Leaky gut syndrome

Inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase IV, which cleaves casomorphin
Inadequate endopeptidase enzymes needed for breakdown of casein & gluten

Abnormal Biochemistry
Binds -SH groups; blocks sulfate transporter in intestines, kidneys
Low sulfate levels

Has special affinity for purines & pyrimidines
Purine & pyrimidine metabolism errors lead to autistic features

Reduces availability of glutathione, needed in neurons, cells & liver to detoxify heavy metals
Low levels of glutathione; decreased ability of liver to detoxify heavy metals

Causes significant reduction in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase
Abnormal glutathione peroxidase activities in erythrocytes

Disrupts mitochondrial activities, especially in brain
Mitochondrial dysfunction, especially in brain

Immune Dysfunction
Sensitivity due to allergic or autoimmune reactions; sensitive individuals more likely to have allergies, asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms, especially rheumatoid-like ones
More likely to have allergies and asthma; familial presence of autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis; IgA deficiencies

Can produce an immune response in CNS
On-going immune response in CNS

Causes brain/MBP autoantibodies
Brain/MBP autoantibodies present

Causes overproduction of Th2 subset; kills/inhibits lymphocytes, T-cells, and monocytes; decreases NK T-cell activity; induces or suppresses IFNg & IL-2
Skewed immune-cell subset in the Th2 direction; decreased responses to T-cell mitogens; reduced NK T-cell function; increased IFNg & IL-12

(v)