Autism Disorder
Autism, also referred as infantile autism or autistic disease, is a lifelong disorder that causes abnormal neurological development. The causes of autism are poorly comprehended, although it is obvious that autism is a biological brain disorder. Autism causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has turn out to be obvious that genetic elements contribute prominently to the occurrence of the disease.
Possible Causes of Autism
Congenital rubella, HIV, and herpes simplex have all been indicated as possible autism causes. While the causes of autism still continue a mystery, it has become obvious that genetic factors contribute a good deal to the presence of the disorder. Though autism's causes are hidden, one fact about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories regarding possible autism causes include genetics, environmental toxins, infections, and even vaccinations. Many other hypotheses, such as the consumption of folic acid in pregnancy, have been proposed as probable 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 leads to behavioral changes in rats. There are other mechanisms of autism besides peptides, although maybe as much as 80% are peptide mediated.
Autism Research
The good news is that investigation is beginning 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. NIH research on likely genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on. Examination into the causes of autism spectrum disorders is being fueled by recent research developments. The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) continues to support research into the causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorders. The CDC is committed to protecting the health of children and to recognizing the biological and environmental causes of autism and additional 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 multiple different autism causes. Autism is a neurological disorder that leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Simply put, autism affects a child to escape into an inner universe. Little is known in regards to the causes, treatment and prevention of autism. Because the main causes of autism in children are not perfectly understood, targeted prevention is difficult. The excellent news is that research is beginning to reveal autism's causes and signs, in particular evidence of a genetic link. This research reflects a shift in scientific thinking about what affects autism, and a drive to look harder at potential environmental influences. Amazingly, it took a good number of years for researchers to ultimately say without a doubt that cold parents are not one of the Autism causes. Patients, researchers and Physicians from around the world have banded together to commence to crack the mystery of what causes autism. No one knows exactly what leads to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), but scientists think that both genetic and environmental components may play a role. Until the mid 1990's, investigation into the causes of autism was limited to a few dedicated individuals who obtained little financing. During the 1990s, there has been a major drive to promote research into the causes of autism.
New Autism Research Clues
Possible molecular causes of autism and other neurological disorders might 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. Because autism itself and its initiation are so puzzling, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is mainly accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. Most believe autism to have numerous probable causes. In the attempt to identify autism's causes, researchers had long sought to pinpoint precisely when the disorder begins. A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism instigates behavioral changes in rats. In fact, the only proven genetic causes of autism to date are well-defined syndromes like the Fragile X chromosome anomaly. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are believed to be some of the most recognized causes of autism. Although researchers aren't sure just what signals the brain's wiring to go awry, reports hint that that autism's roots lie in a person's genes. Over-emphasis on genetic aspects may not take enough account of different 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. Studies of a Massachusetts town have attributed autism to congenital environmental causes. In some cases, autism may signal the body's natural painkillers, called endorphins, to go overly far in suppressing feeling. More than likely several causes and etiological pathways lead to disorders in the autism spectrum.
Asperger Syndrome and Autism
Though autism's causes are murky, one thing about the syndrome is clear: it runs in families. Some people with autism, largely males, have fragile X syndrome, which instigates mental retardation. Current 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.
MMR vaccination
Many parents blame vaccines for the explosion in autism, which instigates 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. The most recent scientific evidence does not substantiate 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 saying 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 provide evidence that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, causes the development of autism, along with regressive forms of autism. However, determination of whether MMR vaccination causes autism is best made by studying the incidence of autism in both vaccinated and un-vaccinated children. These studies supply little evidence to support a hypothesis that MMR vaccination affects autism. Even if measles virus were consistently shown to be present in intestinal specimens of children, this would not conclusively imply that measles causes autism. Therefore, these findings return evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism.
Conclusion
We don't know exactly what causes autism, but we do recognize that both genes and environment are involved. There is no theory of the cause of autism which all of us has found convincing. However, parenting behaviors are not the trigger or a contributing factor to the cause or causes of autism. 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 probably the result of multiple causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes simple.
