New Autism Research Clues
Most believe autism to have various potential causes. In the attempt to identify autism's causes, researchers had long endeavored to pinpoint precisely 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. Studies of a Massachusetts town have attributed autism to congenital environmental causes. In some cases, autism may signal the body's natural painkillers, called endorphins, to go overly far in suppressing feeling. Likely several causes and etiological pathways lead to disorders in the autism spectrum. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are considered to be some of the most recognized causes of autism. Because autism itself and its initiation are so confusing, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is generally accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. Probable 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 disorder. Although researchers aren't sure just what signals 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 enough account of several 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.
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, research into the causes of autism was limited to a few dedicated individuals who received little funding. During the 1990s, there has been a significant push to promote research into the causes of autism. Autism is a neurological disease that leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Clearly put, autism leads to a child to retreat into an inner world. Little is known about the causes, care and prevention of autism. Because the primary causes of autism in children are not well understood, targeted prevention is difficult. The excellent news is that research is appearing to reveal autism's causes and signs, in particular evidence of a genetic link. This research reflects a shift in scientific thinking about what causes autism, and a drive to look harder at possible environmental influences. 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 disease. Research indicates that there may be various different autism causes. 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 throughout the world have banded together to commence to crack the mystery of what causes autism.
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 minimal 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 return 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, signals the development of autism, including regressive forms of autism. Anyhow, 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 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.
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, even though it is clear that autism is a biological brain disorder. Autism affects impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has turn out to be clear that genetic factors contribute significantly to the occurrence of the disease.
Asperger Syndrome and Autism
Though autism's causes are murky, one thing about the syndrome is clear: it runs in families. Some people with autism, typically males, have fragile X syndrome, which leads to mental retardation. 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.
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 substantially to the appearance of the disorder. The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories about probable 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 potential 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 signals behavioral changes in rats. There are other mechanisms of autism besides peptides, although maybe as much as 80% are peptide mediated. Though autism's causes are unclear, one fact about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households.
Autism Research
NIH research on probable genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on. 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 research into the causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorders. The CDC is committed to protecting the health of children and to making out the biological and environmental causes of autism and supplementary developmental disabilities. The happy 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.
Conclusion
We don't know exactly what causes autism, but we do know 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 a small amount of 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 multiple causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes simple.
