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, 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.
Possible Causes of Autism
Though autism's causes are murky, one truth about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. Congenital rubella, HIV, and herpes simplex have all been implied as probable autism causes. While the causes of autism still remain a mystery, it has become obvious that genetic factors contribute importantly to the occurrence of the disorder. Infection of pregnant woman with "wild" rubella virus is one of the few known causes of autism. A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism signals behavioral changes in rats. There are other mechanisms of autism besides peptides, although maybe as much as 80% are peptide mediated. The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories regarding probable autism causes include genetics, environmental toxins, infections, and even vaccinations. Many additional hypotheses, such as the consumption of folic acid in pregnancy, have been proposed as potential 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 thought about what causes autism, and a drive to look harder at likely environmental influences. 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, 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 push to promote investigation into the causes of autism. The Autism Research Center (www.autismresearchcentre.com) conducts research and disseminates results on the causes of autism and on methods of averting, diagnosing and treating the disorder. Research shows that there may be multiple different autism causes. 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 in regards to the causes, care and prevention of autism. Due to the fact that the primary causes of autism in children are not well 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 throughout the world have banded together to commence to crack the mystery of what causes autism.
Autism Research
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 making out the biological and environmental causes of autism and other developmental disabilities. NIH research on possible genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on. The good news is that investigation 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.
Autism Disorder
Autism, also referred as infantile autism or autistic disorder, is a lifelong disease that causes abnormal neurological development. The causes of autism are poorly understood, even though it is obvious that autism is a biological brain disorder. Autism leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has become obvious that genetic elements contribute prominently to the occurrence of the disease.
New Autism Research Clues
Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are thought to be 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 trigger 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. Because autism itself and its initiation are so puzzling, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is usually accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. 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. Most believe autism to have numerous 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 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. Although researchers aren't sure just what signals the brain's wiring to go awry, reports suggest that autism's roots lie in a person's genes. Over-emphasis on genetic aspects may not take sufficient account of various 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.
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, including 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 provide little evidence to support a hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes 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. 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 demonstrate that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, signals the development of autism, including regressive forms of autism. In any case, a small but vocal group of parents have taken to declaring that thimerosal causes autism.
Conclusion
We don't know exactly what causes autism, but we do understand that both genes and environment are involved. There is no theory of the cause of autism which all of us has found convincing. Yet, parenting behaviors are not the basis 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 specific environmental trigger, causes autism. Due to the fact that the disorder is so complex, and because no two people with autism are exactly alike, autism is likely the result of many causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes uncomplicated.
