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, typically males, have fragile X syndrome, which causes mental retardation.
Autism Disorder
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, though it is clear that autism is a biological brain disorder. Autism causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has turn out to be obvious that genetic elements contribute substantially to the occurrence of the disease.
New Autism Research Clues
Probable 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 disorder. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are considered to be some of the most recognized causes of autism. Because autism itself and its causes 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. 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 an adequate amount of 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. Most believe autism to have various possible 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 fact, 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 cause 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.
Autism is a neurological disease that causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Simply put, autism affects a child to escape into an inner universe. Little is known about the causes, treatment and prevention of autism. Because the primary causes of autism in children are not greatly 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 thinking about what affects autism, and a push to look harder at possible environmental influences. Amazingly, it took a good number of years for researchers to finally 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 leads to 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 indicates that there may be multiple different autism causes. No one knows precisely 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, investigation into the causes of autism was limited to a few dedicated individuals who obtained little funding. During the 1990s, there has been a major drive to promote research into the causes of autism.
Autism Research
The nice news is that investigation 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. Investigation 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 well being of children and to identifying the biological and environmental causes of autism and other developmental disabilities. NIH research on possible genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on.
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 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 prospective 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. 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 substantially to the appearance of the disorder. Though autism's causes are murky, one fact about the syndrome is clear: it runs in families.
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. 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, in conjunction with regressive forms of autism. However, determination of whether MMR vaccination leads to 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 provide evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism. The most recent scientific evidence does not confirm that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, leads to the development of autism, including regressive forms of autism. Anyhow, a small but vocal group of parents have taken to alleging that thimerosal causes autism.
Conclusion
We don't know exactly what causes autism, but we do understand 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 cause 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 some 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 likely the result of multiple causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes simple.
