U.S. SPED Caseload Percentages By Category, 2006 and 2021 CREDIT Dr. Raquel Crider
In a recent publication released by PubMed, American scientists led by Dr. Dufault at the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute reported alarming increases in the numbers of children requiring special education services. While student enrollment in US schools remained stable from 2006 to 2021, the percentage of children receiving special education services increased by 10.4%. Among children with autism, the percentage receiving services tripled, jumping from 4% to 11%. Additionally, the caseload percentages for children with developmental delay quadrupled, increasing from 1% to 4%. Children qualifying for special education services under the category of other health impairments, which includes ADHD, jumped from 10% to 16%.
Dr. Dufault’s research team conducted a literature review to identify the epigenetic factors linked to the development of autism and ADHD. Over the past decade, numerous clinical trial data have suggested that dietary exposure to heavy metals and poor nutrition are the primary epigenetic factors that affect gene behavior and the inheritance of autism and/or ADHD in children. The prenatal consumption of ultra-processed foods has been shown to result in poor nutrition and exposure to heavy metals, which can adversely impact infant gene behavior both before and after birth.
The field of research that examines how dietary factors impact gene expression is called nutritional epigenetics. Dr. Dufault has been leading research in this area since 2005. During her time at the Food and Drug Administration, she was the first to identify the issue of inorganic mercury residues in high fructose corn syrup.
There is an ongoing issue with heavy metal residues in the food supply. In 2021, the US Congress released two reports addressing this problem in baby foods. The first report, issued on February 4, 2021, revealed that baby foods contain dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. The second report, issued on September 29, 2021, confirmed that manufacturers have disclosed new information showing even more baby foods with dangerous levels of heavy metals. These heavy metal exposures may exacerbate the development of autism and ADHD.