Possible Causes of Autism
The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories regarding possible 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 likely causes of autism. Congenital rubella, HIV, and herpes simplex have all been suggested as probable autism causes. While the causes of autism still continue a mystery, it has become clear that genetic factors contribute importantly to the occurrence of the disorder. Though autism's causes are hidden, one reality 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 leads to behavioral changes in rats. There are other mechanisms of autism besides peptides, although maybe as much as 80% are peptide mediated.
Autism Research
NIH research on possible genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism continues. 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 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 additional developmental disabilities. The happy 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.
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 fact about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. Some people with autism, mostly males, have fragile X syndrome, which instigates mental retardation.
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 Physicians from around the world have banded together to commence to crack the mystery of what causes autism. The nice 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. Autism is a neurological disorder that causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Simply put, autism affects a child to retreat into an inner world. Little is known about the causes, care and prevention of autism. Due to the fact that the primary causes of autism in children are not greatly understood, targeted prevention is difficult. The Autism Research Center (www.autismresearchcentre.com) conducts research and disseminates results on the causes of autism and on methods of avoiding, diagnosing and treating the disease. Research shows that there may be multiple different autism causes. 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 an extensive push to promote research into the causes of autism.
Autism Disorder
Autism causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has turn out to be obvious that genetic elements contribute considerably to the occurrence of the disorder. Autism, also referred as infantile autism or autistic disease, is a lifelong disorder that causes abnormal neurological development. The causes of autism are poorly understood, though it is obvious that autism is a biological brain disorder.
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 facts. Current scientific evidence does not provide evidence that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, causes the development of autism, together 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 little 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. The most recent scientific evidence does not demonstrate 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 stating 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.
New Autism Research Clues
Although researchers aren't sure just what leads to the brain's wiring to go awry, reports imply that autism's roots lie in a person's genes. Over-emphasis on genetic aspects may not take sufficient account of several causes that are needed to explain the diverse types of autism. Even for the autism-spectrum disorders with known genetic causes, the molecular mechanism of pathology is not well comprehended. 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. Probable 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. Most believe autism to have various 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 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. Because autism itself and its causes are so confusing, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is by and large accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are thought to be to be some of the most recognized causes of autism.
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 exactly alike, autism is likely 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 recognize that both genes and environment are involved. There is no theory of the cause of autism which everyone has found convincing. Yet, parenting behaviors are not the trigger or a contributing factor to the cause or causes of autism.
