Cindy Schneider, MD

Cindy Schneider, MD, is the medical director of CARE, the Center for Autism Research and Education. Her integrative medical practice is dedicated to individuals with autism and other 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 ensuring 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 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 appreciation 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.