No one knows precisely what causes Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), but scientists believe that both genetic and environmental components may play a role. Until the mid 1990's, probing into the causes of autism was limited to a few dedicated individuals who attained little financing. During the 1990s, there has been a substantial drive to promote investigation into the causes of autism. The good 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 thought about what causes autism, and a drive to look harder at possible environmental influences. Autism is a neurological disease that leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Simply put, autism leads to a kid to retreat into an inner universe. Little is known in regards to the causes, treatment and prevention of autism. Because the primary causes of autism in children are not greatly understood, targeted prevention is difficult. Amazingly, it took many years for researchers to in the end say without a doubt that cold parents are not one of the Autism causes. Patients, researchers and Physicians from throughout the world have banded together to begin to crack the mystery of what causes autism. The Autism Research Center (www.autismresearchcentre.com) conducts research and disseminates outcomes on the causes of autism and on methods of avoiding, diagnosing and treating the disorder. Research indicates that there may be various different autism causes.
Autism 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, even though it is clear that autism is a biological brain disease. Autism leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has turn out to be obvious that genetic factors contribute substantially to the presence of the disease.
Autism Research
NIH research on probable genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on. Investigation 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 researching into the causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorders. The CDC is committed to protecting the health of children and to distinguishing the biological and environmental causes of autism and other developmental disabilities. The happy news is that research 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.
MMR vaccination
Many parents blame vaccines for the explosion in autism, which causes 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, signals the development of autism, including regressive forms of autism. Nevertheless, 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 substantiate 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 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 imply that measles causes autism. Therefore, these findings provide evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism.
New Autism Research Clues
Although researchers aren't sure just what causes the brain's wiring to go awry, studies suggest that autism's roots 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 understood. Because autism itself and its causes are so mystifying, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is mainly accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are believed to be some of the most recognized causes of autism. 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. More than likely several causes and etiological pathways lead to disorders in the autism spectrum. Potential 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 disorder. Most believe autism to have a multitude of possible causes. In the effort to identify autism's causes, researchers had long endeavored to pinpoint precisely when the disorder begins. A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism leads to 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 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. Congenital rubella, HIV, and herpes simplex have all been suggested as probable autism causes. While the causes of autism still remain a mystery, it has become obvious that genetic factors contribute substantially to the occurrence of the disorder. Though autism's causes are unclear, one truth about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. 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 other hypotheses, such as the consumption of folic acid in pregnancy, have been proposed as likely causes of autism.
Asperger Syndrome and Autism
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. Though autism's causes are murky, one thing about the syndrome is clear: it runs in families. Some people with autism, typically males, have fragile X syndrome, which causes mental retardation.
Conclusion
We don't know precisely what causes autism, but we do understand that both genes and environment are engaged. There is no theory of the cause of autism which everybody has found convincing. Yet, parenting behaviors are not the cause 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 some environmental trigger, causes autism. Because the disorder is so complex, and because no two people with autism are precisely alike, autism is more than likely the result of many causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes uncomplicated.
