Possible Causes of Autism
Congenital rubella, HIV, and herpes simplex have all been indicated as probable autism causes. While the causes of autism still continue a mystery, it has become obvious that genetic factors contribute importantly to the appearance of the disorder. Though autism's causes are hidden, one reality about the syndrome is clear: it runs in families. The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories about prospective autism causes include genetics, environmental toxins, infections, and even vaccinations. Many further hypotheses, such as the consumption of folic acid in pregnancy, have been proposed as possible causes of autism. Infection of pregnant woman with "wild" rubella virus is one of the few known causes of autism. A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism suggests behavioral changes in rats. There are other mechanisms of autism besides peptides, although maybe as much as 80% are peptide mediated.
Autism Research
NIH research on prospective genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism continues. The nice news is that research is starting to reveal autism's causes and signs, in particular evidence of a genetic link. For instance, there is a global research project aiming to pin down the genetic causes of autism by studying 6,000 DNA samples from families affected. Research into the causes of autism spectrum disorders is being fueled by recent research developments. The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) carries on to support researching into the causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorders. The CDC is committed to protecting the health of children and to making out the biological and environmental causes of autism and supplementary developmental disabilities.
The Autism Research Center (www.autismresearchcentre.com) conducts research and disseminates results on the causes of autism and on methods of avoiding, diagnosing and treating the disorder. Research shows that there may be different different autism causes. Autism is a neurological disease that causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Clearly put, autism affects a kid to retreat into an inner world. Little is known about the causes, treatment and prevention of autism. Due to the fact that the primary causes of autism in children are not perfectly understood, targeted prevention is difficult. Amazingly, it took many years for researchers to finally say without an uncertainty that cold parents are not one of the Autism causes. Patients, researchers and doctors from around the world have banded together to begin to crack the mystery of what leads to autism. No one knows exactly what causes Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), but scientists believe that both genetic and environmental components may play a role. Until the mid 1990's, research into the causes of autism was limited to a few dedicated individuals who received little financing. During the 1990s, there has been a major drive to promote research into the causes of autism. The excellent news is that research is starting to reveal autism's causes and signs, in particular evidence of a genetic link. This research reflects a shift in scientific thinking about what causes autism, and a drive to look harder at potential environmental influences.
Autism Disorder
Autism, also referred as infantile autism or autistic disease, is a lifelong disease that causes abnormal neurological development. The causes of autism are poorly understood, though it is clear that autism is a biological brain disorder. Autism affects impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has become obvious that genetic elements contribute considerably to the occurrence of the disease.
Asperger Syndrome and Autism
Though autism's causes are murky, one fact about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. Some people with autism, by and large males, have fragile X syndrome, which leads to mental retardation. The most recent thought among most stipulates that the causes of Asperger syndrome are the same as those of autism. Some disagree, arguing that Asperger syndrome and autism have different causes.
New Autism Research Clues
Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are believed to be some of the most recognized causes of autism. Most believe autism to have a good number of potential causes. In the attempt to identify autism's causes, researchers had long sought to pinpoint exactly when the disorder begins. A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism causes behavioral changes in rats. In reality, the only proven genetic causes of autism to date are well-defined syndromes like the Fragile X chromosome anomaly. Possible molecular causes of autism and other neurological disorders may be associated with mis-folding of proteins. NICHD researchers are looking into a variety of possible causes for both early onset and regressive autism. Some people with autism have mutations in the Pten gene, but it is unclear if that's what causes the disease. Studies of a Massachusetts town have attributed autism to congenital environmental causes. In some cases, autism may trigger the body's natural painkillers, called endorphins, to go too far in suppressing feeling. Probably several causes and etiological pathways lead to disorders in the autism spectrum. Although researchers aren't sure just what leads to the brain's wiring to go awry, studies suggest that autism's bases lie in a person's genes. Over-emphasis on genetic aspects may not take enough account of diverse causes that are needed to explain the distinct types of autism. Even for the autism-spectrum disorders with known genetic causes, the molecular mechanism of pathology is not well comprehended. Because autism itself and its initiation are so perplexing, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is usually accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures.
MMR vaccination
Many parents blame vaccines for the explosion in autism, which leads to bizarre repetitive behavior and an inability to establish emotional ties. There is a theory out there that MMR vaccination with thimerosol causes autism in young children. Contemporary scientific evidence does not confirm that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, causes the development of autism, including regressive forms of autism. In any case, a small but vocal group of parents have taken to stating that thimerosal causes autism. If thimerosal causes autism, the prevalence of the disorder should have declined as the chemical was removed from vaccines. This is not supported by the realities. Current scientific evidence does not show that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, causes the development of autism, in conjunction with regressive forms of autism. However, determination of whether MMR vaccination instigates autism is best made by studying the incidence of autism in both vaccinated and un-vaccinated children. These studies make minimal evidence to validate a hypothesis that MMR vaccination leads to autism. Even if measles virus were consistently shown to be present in intestinal specimens of children, this would not conclusively hint that that measles causes autism. Therefore, these findings provide evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism.
Conclusion
The popular theory now is that people can be born with a genetic predisposition that, coupled with a little environmental trigger, causes autism. Because the disorder is so complex, and because no two people with autism are precisely alike, autism is likely the result of many causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes simple. We don't know precisely what causes autism, but we do recognize that both genes and environment are involved. There is no theory of the cause of autism which everybody has found convincing. However, parenting behaviors are not the cause or a contributing factor to the cause or causes of autism.
