Dr. Cindy Schneider is the Medical Director of CARE, the Center for Autism Research and Education. Her integrative medical practice is dedicated to individuals with autism and related neurological and immune disorders. Her areas of special interest include treatment of the immune, gastrointestinal, and metabolic aspects of autism and the identification of environmental toxins contributing to the autism epidemic. She has designed and implemented multiple research studies and collaborated with researchers worldwide.
Dr. Schneider is a unique healthcare provider who has established a reputation for responsible and effective management of patients who have not found relief through conventional treatment. She takes a functional medical approach to a variety of complex conditions including autism spectrum disorders, cerebral folate deficiency, attention deficit disorders, Tourette’s, tic disorders, and Down syndrome. Her emphasis is on optimizing each patient’s nutritional status and insuring that key metabolic pathways are supported when necessary.
Preventing health problems and developmental delays is also a high priority at CARE. Dr. Schneider greatly enjoys working with women to optimize their health prior to and during pregnancy in order to give their children the healthiest possible start in life. Dr. Schneider’s background in obstetrics and gynecology and her understanding of the many risk factors associated with autism allow her to recommend appropriate testing, lifestyle changes, and supplements to optimize the health of women and their babies. See our new Preparing for Baby program for more information on state of the art testing and support for your current or future pregnancy.
CARE also offers interpretation of 23 and Me and other genetic test results. An emphasis is placed on genetic mutations that affect brain, heart, and immune health and our ability to clear toxins. Many genetic weaknesses can be overcome with lifestyle changes and high quality nutritional supplements. In the case of genetic vulnerability to diseases and environmental toxins, knowledge is truly power.
Dr. Schneider obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Illinois. She then completed both medical school and her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and practiced obstetrics and gynecology from 1990-1998. This background provided a comprehensive understanding and appreciate of fetal development and the dangers posed by environmental toxins, viral infections, and nutritional deficiencies. Her interest in nutrition, immunology, genetics, and toxicology is now applied to her general practice.
Dr. Schneider has been a member of the Autism Research Institute Think Tank since 1997. She was the founding president and medical director of two nonprofit organizations for autism research and is a Medical Advisor to SafeMinds, TACA, and the Healthy U Now Foundation. She is also on the faculty at MAPS, the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs, where she teaches neurology, immunology, and advanced biomedical interventions to physicians seeking a deeper understanding of functional medicine. She lectures throughout the world on these and other topics relating to autism and other environmentally-induced neurological disorders.
As a physician, researcher, and mother of two adults with autism, Dr. Schneider offers both a professional and personal assessment of current and promising treatment options. Whether your child has recently been diagnosed or you’ve been struggling to find answers for years, Dr. Schneider will provide a comprehensive understanding of his or her health challenges and identify your most effective treatment strategies.
Dr. Schneider’s Research Publications
Rossignol D, Bradstreet J, Van Dyke K, Schneider C, Freedenfeld S, O’Hara N, Cave S, Buckley J, Mumper E, Frye R. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment in autism spectrum disorders. Medical Gas Research, 2(16), 2012.
Napolioni V, Lombard F, Sacco R, Curatolo P, Manzi B, Alessandrelli R, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Lent C, Saccani M, Schneider C, Melmed R, Pascucci T, Puglisi-Allegra S, Reichelt KL, Rousseau F, Lewin P, Persico AM. Family-based association study of ITGB3 in autism spectrum disorder and its endophenotypes. Eur J Hum Genet, 19(3): 353-9, Mar 2011.
Muscarella LA, Guarnieri V, Sacco R, Curatolo P, Manzi B, Alessandrelli R, Giani G, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Lenti C, Saccani M, Schneider C, Melmed R, D’Agruma L, Persico AM. Candidate Gene Study of HOXB1 in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Autism, 1(1): 9, May 2010.
Lintas C, Sacco R, Garbett K, Mirnics K, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Curatolo P, Manzi B, Schneider C, Melmed R, Elia M, Pascucci T, Puglisi-Allegra S, Reichelt KL, Persico AM. Involvement of the PRKCB1 gene in autistic disorder: significant genetic association and reduced neocortical gene expression. Mol Psychiatry, 14(7):705-18, July 2009.
Rossignol D, Rossignol L, Smith S, Schneider C, Logerquist S, Usman A, Neubrander J, Madren E, Hintz G, Grushkin B and Mumper E. Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. BMC Pediatrics, 9(21) March 13, 2009.
Vojdani A, Mumper E, Granpeesheh D, Mielke L, Traver D, Bock K, Hirani K, Neubrander J, Woeller K, O’Hara N, Usman A, Schneider C, Hebroni F, Berookhim J, McCandless J. Low natural killer cell cytotoxic activity in autism: The role of glutathione, IL-2, and IL-15. J of Neuroimmunology, 205(1-2): 148-54, Dec 15, 2008.
Palmieri L, Papaleo V, Porcelli V, Scarcia P, Gaita L, Sacco R, Hager J, Rousseau F, Curatolo P, Manzi B, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Trillo S, Schneider C, Melmed R, Elia M, Lenti C, Saccani M, Pascucci T, Puglisi-Allergra S, Reichelt K_L, and Persico AM. Altered calcium homeostasis in autism-spectrum disorders: evidence from biochemical and genetic studies of the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier AGC1. Molecular Psychiatry, July 8, 2008.
Sacco R, Militerni R, Frolli A, Bravaccio C, Gritti A, Elia M, Curatolo P, Manzi B, Trillo S, Lenti C, Saccani M, Schneider C, Melmed R, Reichelt K, Pascucci T, Puglisi-Allegra S, and Persico A. Clinical, Morphological, and Biochemical Correlates of Head Circumference in Autism. Biological Psychiatry, 62(9): 1038-47, Nov 1, 2007.
Muscarella LA, Guarnieri V, Sacco R, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Trillo S, Schneider C, Melmed R, Elia M, Mascia ML, Rucci E, Piemontese MR, D’Agruma L, and Persico AM. HOXA1 Gene Variants Influence Head Growth Rates in Humans. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 144B(3): 388-90, April 2007.
Sacco R, Papaleo V, Hager J, Rousseau F, Moessner R, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Trillo S, Schneider C, et al. Case-Control and Family-Based Association Studies of Candidate Genes in Autistic Disorder and Its Endophenotypes: TPH2 and GLO1. BMC Medical Genetics, 8(11): 1471-2350, Mar 2007.
Campbell DB, Sutcliffe JS, Ebert PJ, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Trillo S, Elia M, Schneider C, Melmed R, Sacco R, and Persico AM. A Genetic Variant That Disrupts MET Transcription is Associated with Autism. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 103(45): 16834-9, Nov 2006.
Schneider CK, Melmed RD, Enriquez FJ, Barstow LE, Ranger-Moore J, and Ostrem JA. Oral Human Immunoglobulin in Autistic Gastrointestinal Dysfunction: A Prospective, Open-Label Study. Journal for Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(8):1053-64, Nov 2006.
D’Amelio M, Ricci I, Sacco R, Liu X, D’Agruma L, Muscarella LA, Guarnierei V, Militerni R, Braccio C, Elia M, Schneider CK, Melmed RD, Trillo S, Pascucci R, Puglisi-Allegra S, Reichelt K-L, Macciardi F, Holden JJA, and Persico AM. Paraoxonase Gene Variants are associated with Autism in North America, but not in Italy: Possible Regional Specificity in Gene-Environment Interactions. Molecular Psychiatry, 10: 1006-1016, 2005.
Persico AM, D’Agruma L, Zelante L, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Schneider C, Melmed R, Trillo S, Montecchi F, et. al. Enhanced APOE2 Transmission Rates in Families with Autistic Probands. Psychiatric Genetics, 14(2): 73-82, Jun 2004.
Conciatori M, Stodgell CJ, Hyman SL, O’Bara M, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Trillo S, Montecchi F, Schneider C, Melmed R, Elia M, et. al. Association between the HOXA1 A218G Polymorphism and Increased Head Circumference in Patients with Autism. Biological Psychiatry, 55(4): 413-419, 2004.
Persico AM, D’Agruma L, Maiorano N, Totaro A, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Wassink TH, Schneider C, Melmed R, Trillo S, Monteccchi F, Palermo M, Pascucci T, Puglisi-Allegra S, Reichelt KL, Conciatori M, Marino R, Baldi A, Zelante L, Gasparini P, and Keller F. Reelin Gene Alleles and Haplotypes as a Factor Predisposing to Autistic Disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 6: 150-159, 2000.
Persico AM, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Schneider CK, Melmed RD, Trillo S, Montecchi F, Palermo M, Pascucci T, Puglisi-Allegra S, Reichelt K, Conciatori M, Baldi A, and Keller F. Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) Alleles and Autistic Disorder: Case-Control and Family Based Association Studies. American Journal of Medical Genetics (Neuropsychiatric Genetics), 96:784-790, 2000.
Persico AM, Militerni R, Bravaccio C, Schneider CK, Melmed RD, Conciatori M, Damiani V, Baldi A, and Keller F. Lack of Association between Serotonin Transporter Gene Promotor Variants and Autistic Disorder in Two Ethnically Distinct Samples. Americal Journal of Medical Genetics, 96:123-127, 2000.
Fabes RA, Martin CL, Melmed RD, and Schneider CK. Helping Children with Autism and their Families: University-Community Efforts. In T Chiburos and R Lerner (Eds), Successful University Community Relationships, 144-150, 1999. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.