Autism Research
NIH research on likely genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism continues. Research 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 investigation 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 good news is that investigation 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.
Possible Causes of Autism
Though autism's causes are murky, one fact about the syndrome is clear: it runs in families. Infection of pregnant woman with "wild" rubella virus is one of the few known causes of autism. A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism suggests 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 indicated as probable autism causes. While the causes of autism still remain a mystery, it has become obvious that genetic factors contribute a good deal to the presence of the disorder. The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories about potential 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 probable causes of autism.
New Autism Research Clues
Although researchers aren't sure just what causes the brain's wiring to go awry, studies indicate 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. 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. 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 overly far in suppressing feeling. Probably 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 mainly accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. Most believe autism to have various possible causes. In the attempt 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 reality, 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 considered to be some of the most recognized causes of autism.
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 thing about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. Some people with autism, primarily males, have fragile X syndrome, which instigates mental retardation.
MMR vaccination
The most recent scientific evidence does not show 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 declaring 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. 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 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 supply 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 suggest that measles causes autism. Therefore, these findings return evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism.
Autism Disorder
Autism affects impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has turn out to be clear that genetic elements contribute considerably to the appearance of the disease. Autism, also referred as infantile autism or autistic disorder, is a lifelong disorder that causes abnormal neurological development. The causes of autism are poorly understood, although it is obvious that autism is a biological brain disease.
Autism is a neurological disease that leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Clearly put, autism causes a child to retreat into an inner universe. Little is known regarding the causes, care and prevention of autism. Due to the fact that the primary causes of autism in children are not perfectly 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, investigation into the causes of autism was limited to a few dedicated individuals who obtained little funding. During the 1990s, there has been a significant drive to promote investigation into the 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 leads to autism, and a push to look harder at likely environmental influences. Amazingly, it took a good number of years for researchers to to conclude 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 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 preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease. Research shows that there may be different different autism causes.
Conclusion
We don't know exactly what causes autism, but we do understand that both genes and environment are engaged. 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. 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 more than likely the result of many causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes uncomplicated.
