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) 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 identifying 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. NIH research on prospective genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on.
New Autism Research Clues
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. Likely several causes and etiological pathways lead to disorders in the autism spectrum. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are considered to be some of the most recognized causes of autism. 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 an adequate amount of account of different causes that are needed to explain the various types of autism. Even for the autism-spectrum disorders with known genetic causes, the molecular mechanism of pathology is not well understood. Most believe autism to have a multitude of potential causes. In the effort to identify autism's causes, researchers had long sought to pinpoint precisely 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. 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. 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 disease.
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 fact about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. Some people with autism, mostly males, have fragile X syndrome, which leads to mental retardation.
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 disease. Research shows that there may be various different autism causes. Amazingly, it took a good number of years for researchers to finally say without a doubt 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. No one knows exactly what leads to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), but scientists believe that both genetic and environmental factors may play a role. Until the mid 1990's, probing into the causes of autism was limited to a few dedicated individuals who obtained little financing. During the 1990s, there has been an extensive push to promote investigation into the causes of autism. The nice news is that research is appearing to reveal autism's causes and signs, in particular evidence of a genetic link. This research reflects a shift in scientific thinking about what leads to autism, and a push to look harder at possible environmental influences. Autism is a neurological disease that leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Clearly put, autism causes a kid to retreat into an inner universe. Little is known about the causes, care and prevention of autism. Because the primary causes of autism in children are not well understood, targeted prevention is difficult.
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 significantly to the occurrence of the disorder. The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories regarding potential 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 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. Though autism's causes are unclear, one reality about the syndrome is clear: it runs in families.
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, although it is obvious that autism is a biological brain disease. Autism affects impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has become obvious that genetic elements contribute prominently to the occurrence of the disease.
MMR vaccination
Current scientific evidence does not confirm that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, leads to 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. 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. 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 facts. 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 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 indicate that measles causes autism. Therefore, these findings provide evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism.
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 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 a small amount of environmental trigger, causes autism. Due to the fact that the disorder is so complex, and because no two people with autism are precisely alike, autism is probably the result of many causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes uncomplicated.
