Autism Disorder
Autism causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has become clear that genetic elements contribute considerably to the presence 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 comprehended, although it is clear that autism is a biological brain disease.
Amazingly, it took a good number of years for researchers to ultimately say without a doubt that cold parents are not one of the Autism causes. Patients, researchers and doctors from around the world have banded together to begin to crack the mystery of what leads to autism. No one knows exactly what leads to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), but scientists think 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 attained little financing. During the 1990s, there has been a major push to promote research into the causes of autism. The excellent news is that research is beginning to reveal autism's causes and signs, in particular evidence of a genetic link. This research reflects a shift in scientific thought about what affects autism, and a push to look harder at potential environmental influences. Autism is a neurological disorder that causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Clearly put, autism leads to a child to escape into an inner universe. Little is known in regards to the causes, treatment and prevention of autism. Due to the fact that the main causes of autism in children are not well 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 disorder. Research suggests that there may be different different autism causes.
MMR vaccination
Many parents blame vaccines for the explosion in autism, which causes 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, 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. 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 confirm 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 instigates autism is best made by studying the incidence of autism in both vaccinated and un-vaccinated children. These studies supply little evidence to support a hypothesis that MMR vaccination affects 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 provide evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism.
Autism Research
NIH research on prospective genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism continues. The good news is that research 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. 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 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.
Possible Causes of Autism
Though autism's causes are hidden, one truth about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. Congenital rubella, HIV, and herpes simplex have all been suggested as possible autism causes. While the causes of autism still continue a mystery, it has become obvious that genetic factors contribute prominently 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 suggests 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 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 likely causes of autism.
New Autism Research Clues
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 overly far in suppressing feeling. Probably several causes and etiological pathways lead to disorders in the autism spectrum. Most believe autism to have a good number of 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 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. Potential molecular causes of autism and other neurological disorders might 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. Although researchers aren't sure just what causes the brain's wiring to go awry, reports hint that that autism's bases lie in a person's genes. Over-emphasis on genetic aspects may not take enough 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 understood. Because autism itself and its initiation are so perplexing, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is usually accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are believed to be some of the most recognized causes of autism.
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 families. Some people with autism, largely males, have fragile X syndrome, which leads to mental retardation.
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 everybody has found convincing. However, 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. Because 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.
