The mind-body connection is a construct explaining that human minds and bodies are twined together to build each person’s reality. The extent of the connection is still being described. Even the ancient Greeks debated this. Rene Descartes’s theory of mind-body dualism states that the mind (or soul) and the body are distinct and separate substances, each with different essential natures but capable of interacting. Descartes said in French “I think therefore I am”. Descartes never heard the word “neurotransmitter” but most readers know that neurotransmitters somehow connect neurons together to make Descartes’ thought even in French.
Researchers are working to understand the incredible complexity of the nervous system, how it is formed, how the neurological system can have thoughts and how it can remember them. One aspect of all this research is to determine how the brain can influence the health of the individual. The more this mind-body connection is understood the more healthy interventions can be found. For instance it is known that depression can cause decreased appetite and the feeling of tiredness. So as researchers determine what the biochemistry of depression is, it may be able to treat the biochemistry of anorexia and fatigue.
One of the Vitamins B9, also known as folate, plays a crucial role in cell growth, primarily red cells, and preventing neural tube defects (central nervous system). This is so important that folate is added to many food products to make sure that pregnant women are not deficient. Of course it is in prenatal vitamins.
It is known that children with autistic behaviors including intellectual disabilities have genetic defects. Many of these have been discovered with the increasing knowledge of the billions of genes that make up the mind and the body. Some of these genes cause a deficit of important proteins, other too much.
Well over 1,000 different genes have been reported with having an association with Autism Spectrum Disorder. An example of research helping with finding healthy outcomes is another Vitamin B9 variation, folinic acid. Folinic acid is chemically different to folic acid but works in similar ways. Some children with the diagnosis of early-onset low functioning autism also had infantile-onset cerebral folate deficiency. Their blood was tested for the presence of folate receptor autoantibodies and a spinal tap to find a below normal active form of folate. These children were treated with folinic acid. About 1/3 responded with significantly greater verbal communication, attention and decreased stereotypical behaviors. A small percentage had worsening behavior.
This study is a very long way from finding a cure for the behaviors of autistic spectrum but is a good example of how one or two abnormal genes can be identified and once identified there is a possibility of developing a remedy for the abnormal gene.
Ongoing research is critical in finding understanding of the mind-body connection and in finding ways of prevention and healthy remedies not only for the neuro-developmentally disabled but for all. Rene Descartes would say “Vive la recherché” (long live research)!
by Sally Robinson, MD Clinical Professor
Keeping Kids Healthy
Published March 2025