Asperger Syndrome and Autism
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 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.
Autism is a neurological disease that leads to impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. Clearly put, autism leads to a kid to escape into an inner world. Little is known about the causes, care and prevention of autism. Because the main causes of autism in children are not well understood, targeted prevention is difficult. Amazingly, it took a good number of years for researchers to to conclude say without an uncertainty that cold parents are not one of the Autism causes. Patients, researchers and doctors from around the world have banded together to commence to crack the mystery of what leads to autism. The good 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 thinking about what causes autism, and a push to look harder at likely environmental influences. No one knows exactly what leads to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), but scientists think that both genetic and environmental components may play a role. Until the mid 1990's, investigation 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. The Autism Research Center (www.autismresearchcentre.com) conducts research and disseminates outcomes on the causes of autism and on methods of averting, diagnosing and treating the disease. Research indicates that there may be several different autism causes.
New Autism Research Clues
Most believe autism to have various probable causes. In the attempt to identify autism's causes, researchers had long sought to pinpoint precisely 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. 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. 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 puzzling, the international symbol for autism is a puzzle piece. It is mainly accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures. Potential 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 an adequate amount of 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 comprehended.
Possible Causes of Autism
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 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 importantly to the appearance of the disorder. Though autism's causes are hidden, one truth about the syndrome is clear: it runs in households. 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.
MMR vaccination
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. 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 show that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, causes the development of autism, including 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 minimal 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 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 demonstrate that MMR vaccine, or any combination of vaccines, causes 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.
Autism 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, even though it is obvious that autism is a biological brain disease. Autism signals impairments in communication, ability to learn, and social relatedness. It has become clear that genetic elements contribute prominently to the presence of the disorder.
Autism Research
The happy news is that research 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. NIH research on likely genetic, infectious, immunological, and environmental causes and mechanisms of autism continues. Research 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 making out the biological and environmental causes of autism and supplementary developmental disabilities.
Conclusion
We don't know precisely 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. 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 some 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 a multitude of causes. Nothing will make the search for autism's causes simple.
