Autism Disorder
Autism affects impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has turn out to be obvious that genetic factors contribute significantly to the presence of the disorder. Autism, also referred as infantile autism or autistic disorder, is a lifelong disorder that causes abnormal neurological development. The causes of autism are poorly comprehended, though it is clear that autism is a biological brain disease.
Asperger Syndrome and Autism
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. Though autism's causes are murky, one reality about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. Some people with autism, by and large males, have fragile X syndrome, which instigates mental retardation.
Autism Research
Investigation 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 investigation into the causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorders. The CDC is committed to protecting the health of children and to identifying the biological and environmental causes of autism and additional developmental disabilities. The nice news is that research is appearing 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 probable genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on.
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 thought about what leads to autism, and a push to look harder at likely environmental influences. Autism is a neurological disease that leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Simply put, autism affects a kid to escape into an inner universe. Little is known regarding the causes, care and prevention of autism. Because the primary causes of autism in children are not well understood, targeted prevention is difficult. No one knows exactly what causes Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), but scientists think 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 funding. During the 1990s, there has been an extensive drive to promote research into the causes of autism. Amazingly, it took a good number of years for researchers to ultimately say without an uncertainty that cold parents are not one of the Autism causes. Patients, researchers and Physicians from around the world have banded together to begin to crack the mystery of what leads to autism. The Autism Research Center (www.autismresearchcentre.com) conducts research and disseminates outcomes on the causes of autism and on methods of preventing, diagnosing and treating the disorder. Research suggests that there may be multiple different autism causes.
New Autism Research Clues
Although researchers aren't sure just what signals the brain's wiring to go awry, reports imply that autism's bases lie in a person's genes. Over-emphasis on genetic aspects may not take an adequate amount of account of different causes that are needed to explain the diverse types of autism. Even for the autism-spectrum disorders with known genetic causes, the molecular mechanism of pathology is not well understood. Because autism itself and its initiation are so mystifying, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is by and large accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are thought to be to be some of the most recognized causes of autism. Most believe autism to have multiple probable causes. In the effort to identify autism's causes, researchers had long endeavored to pinpoint exactly when the disorder begins. A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism causes 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. Studies of a Massachusetts town have attributed autism to congenital environmental causes. In some cases, autism may lead to 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. Potential molecular causes of autism and other neurological disorders could 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 disorder.
Possible Causes of Autism
Though autism's causes are murky, one truth about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories regarding 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 likely 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 causes behavioral changes in rats. There are other mechanisms of autism besides peptides, although maybe as much as 80% are peptide mediated. Congenital rubella, HIV, and herpes simplex have all been suggested as possible autism causes. While the causes of autism still continue a mystery, it has become clear that genetic factors contribute importantly to the presence of the disorder.
MMR vaccination
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 instigates autism is best made by studying the incidence of autism in both vaccinated and un-vaccinated children. These studies supply minimal evidence to validate 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. Current scientific evidence does not confirm that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, causes the development of autism, including regressive forms of autism. Anyhow, a small but vocal group of parents have taken to saying that thimerosal causes autism. 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.
Conclusion
The popular theory now is that people can be born with a genetic predisposition that, coupled with a small amount of 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 multiple causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes uncomplicated. 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 everyone has found convincing. However, parenting behaviors are not the trigger or a contributing factor to the cause or causes of autism.
