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) carries on to support investigation into the causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorders. The CDC is committed to protecting the well being of children and to recognizing the biological and environmental causes of autism and other developmental disabilities. The good news is that research 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. NIH research on likely genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on.
Autism Disorder
Autism leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has become clear that genetic factors contribute considerably to the occurrence of the disease. 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 disease.
New Autism Research Clues
Because autism itself and its initiation 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. Most believe autism to have several potential 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 truth, 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 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. Potential molecular causes of autism and other neurological disorders may 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. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are believed to be some of the most recognized causes of autism. Although researchers aren't sure just what signals the brain's wiring to go awry, studies imply that autism's bases 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 various types of autism. Even for the autism-spectrum disorders with known genetic causes, the molecular mechanism of pathology is not well understood.
Possible Causes of Autism
Though autism's causes are hidden, one truth about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. 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 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 possible causes of autism. 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 presence of the disorder.
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, largely males, have fragile X syndrome, which leads to mental retardation.
MMR vaccination
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 causes autism is best made by studying the incidence of autism in both vaccinated and un-vaccinated children. These studies provide 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 indicate that measles causes autism. Therefore, these findings provide evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism. Contemporary scientific evidence does not demonstrate 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 claiming that thimerosal causes autism.
Autism is a neurological disorder that causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Simply put, autism affects a kid to retreat 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 perfectly understood, targeted prevention is difficult. 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 drive to look harder at potential environmental influences. Amazingly, it took several years for researchers to to conclude 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. No one knows precisely what leads to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), but scientists believe 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 attained little funding. During the 1990s, there has been an extensive drive 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 indicates that there may be various different autism causes.
Conclusion
The popular theory now is that people can be born with a genetic predisposition that, coupled with a little 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. We don't know precisely what causes autism, but we do know 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 cause or a contributing factor to the cause or causes of autism.
