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 leads to 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 hidden, one reality about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. 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 a good deal to the occurrence of the disorder. The causes of autism have long baffled investigators and frustrated parents. Theories in regards to 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.
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, probing 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. Amazingly, it took several years for researchers to finally 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. 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 thought about what leads to autism, and a push to look harder at potential environmental influences. 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 disorder. Research suggests that there may be multiple different autism causes. Autism is a neurological disease that causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Clearly put, autism causes a child to escape into an inner world. Little is known regarding 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.
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 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 leads to autism is best made by studying the incidence of autism in both vaccinated and un-vaccinated children. These studies provide little evidence to validate 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 hint that that measles causes autism. Therefore, these findings return evidence against the hypothesis that MMR vaccination causes autism. The most recent scientific evidence does not show that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, leads to the development of autism, including regressive forms of autism. Nonetheless, a small but vocal group of parents have taken to claiming that thimerosal causes autism.
Autism Research
NIH research on possible genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism carries on. 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 well being of children and to distinguishing the biological and environmental causes of autism and additional developmental disabilities. The good 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.
New Autism Research Clues
Although researchers aren't sure just what leads to the brain's wiring to go awry, reports suggest that autism's roots lie in a person's genes. Over-emphasis on genetic aspects may not take enough account of various causes that are needed to explain the distinct 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 multiple probable 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 truth, the only proven genetic causes of autism to date are well-defined syndromes like the Fragile X chromosome anomaly. Possible 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. Because autism itself and its causes are so perplexing, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is mainly accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. 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. Likely several causes and etiological pathways lead to disorders in the autism spectrum. Genetic factors and brain abnormalities at birth are thought to be to be some of the most recognized causes of autism.
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, although it is clear that autism is a biological brain disorder. Autism causes impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has become clear that genetic factors contribute significantly to the appearance of the disorder.
Asperger Syndrome and Autism
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 reality about the syndrome is clear: it runs in families. Some people with autism, typically males, have fragile X syndrome, which instigates mental retardation.
Conclusion
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 all of us has found convincing. However, 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 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 probably the result of many causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes uncomplicated.
