The fact is that no one really knows for sure what causes autism, but many professionals would most likely agree that autism is likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. For many parents, this uncertainty in what causes autism can be very frustrating.
The topic of what causes autism has become extremely controversial. Many individuals are passionate about the subject, and have very strong convictions. Although there is no known cause for autism there are a few theories on what my cause it. Some of those theories are:
Vaccines Cause Autism - some people believe that the mercury (thimerosal) used in some vaccines could cause autism.
Is Autism Genetic - I tend to believe that autism most likely has a genetic basis
These components can cause autism on their own or possibly when combined with exposure to environmental factors that have not yet been classified. A small number of cases can be linked to genetic disorders such as Fragile X, Tuberous Sclerosis, and Angelman’s Syndrome. In an article on Health &Wellness- Tree.com many families link vaccines with autism and this has been an intense debate for almost a decade. On one side are the families of autistic children, many of whom are convinced that the link between autism and vaccines is real. On the other side researchers who have conducted numerous medical studies, some involving thousands of children, have found NO evidence linked to autism and vaccines. There are suggestions that the reason several parents blame immunizations is that it is the one common factor among children corresponds with the age in which the children receive their immunization for Measles Mumps and Rubella. (Health &Wellness 1) “The autism linked to vaccine side of the argument does have a smoking gun to point to: thimerosal. Thimerosal was an ingredient in childhood vaccines until 1999, when pharmaceutical companies bowed to public pressure
Despite general agreements among experts who believe biological factors cause autism, experts have not identified cures or causes (Hansell & Damour, 2008).
“Autism is a disorder characterized by severe difficulties in social interaction and communication and with unusual behaviors.” (Dr. David Pauls 2003). This disorder is assumed to be caused by genetics, environmental toxins and/or prenatal care. (Harvard Medical School 2013). Social behaviors/interactions affected by Autism is the ability to process learning, communication and family/peer relationships. Autism is a disorder in which its cause makes it impossible to prevent and it takes a toll on its victim’s everyday life tasks.
Just as SLI, the causes for ASD are not initially clear. It is evident that some biological and genetical causes are in play. Prenatal components are also a possibility. Although many are worried about vaccines causing autism, it is safe to say that there is no basis for this claim. Much research was done on this subject, and the connection has been severed.
There is no known single cause of autism. however, it is generally accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in the brain. Autism has been linked to genetic and environmental factors. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder.
Autism according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is defined as “a variable developmental disorder that appears by age three and is characterized by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, to commutate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns.” Autism was believed to be a psychiatric or emotional illness, and doctors told mothers that they were the cause. They were wrong. The cause for autism is still a mystery, however, the facts remain that autism in children is on the rise. Erin Allday of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, “Environmental factors play a more important role in causing autism than previously assumed and, surprisingly, an even larger role than genetic.” There are theories based on that
There are reported to be "no definitive causes of autism, research has found some common risk factors in children who have been diagnosed with this complex disorder. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 150 children will have autism and that number is growing." (p.1) Research is reported to have found a causal
One vaccine ingredient that has been studied specifically is thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used to prevent contamination of multidose vials of vaccines. Since 2003, there have been nine CDC-funded or conducted studies that have found no link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and Autism, as well as no link between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and Autism in children. Besides thimerosal, some individuals have had concerns about other vaccine ingredients in relation to Autism as well. However, no links have been found between any vaccine ingredients and
There is much speculation over whether or not vaccinations can lead to autism. Many people are concerned that autism may be linked to vaccines in the ingredients in them that children receive. Although there are many who support this theory, biology has shown that there is no link between vaccinations and autism. The fact that there is no relation between vaccinations and autism has been proved time and time again through many scientists including those who work with the CDC- Center for Disease Control and many other medical professionals.
While there are many theories there is no single cause of autism. One theory assumes multiple factors interacting in complex ways (i.e. genes, environment and brain) can cause autism. Genetics play a role but do not explain the full picture or the recent increase in reported cases. According to Volkmar and Weisner (2009), "Identical twins have identical genes, while fraternal twins share only some genes. The implication of this finding was that there was potentially a very strong genetic contribution in autism. A number of studies have shown that this is the case. " (p. 26). There are medical conditions associated with autism which include, phenylketonuria, congenital rubella, tuberous sclerosis, and Fragile X. The strongest associations are with Fragile X, a genetic condition causing intellectual disability and tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in many different organs, primarily in the brain, eyes, heart. There is no strong evidence that environmental etologies cause autism. Some researchers assume that environmental toxins can increase the rate of autism, but evidence proposed for environmental factors is based on a case by case report which is difficult to interpret (Volkmar & Weisner,
Scientists are still unsure as to what causes autism, but it is most commonly a genetic
Autism is a brain based disorder that causes social-communication challenges. Autism is often diagnosed when children are very young. They can be diagnosed as early as 18 months according to the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many expecting parents will prepare for a pregnancy by the usual healthy diet to make sure that they have a healthy baby, however, many children are still getting diagnosed with autism every day. There is a statistic stated on the Autism Spectrum Disorder that about 1 in every 68 children in the United States currently has autism. There are many different beliefs people have for as to what causes autism, but there still has not yet been a found cure. There needs to be a stronger effort in the medical fields to find the leading cause of autism.
Just as there is no duplicate case of autism, there is no one cause. Alternatively, there is a list of causes. Some of the most common include genetic mutation and predisposition as well as environmental factors. Some research shows that women can reduce the chance of their children being autistic by increasing folic acid intake before and following conception. Other research shows that “advanced paternal age can affect the child’s risk” of being
According to Shangraw (2012), there is no concrete etiology of autism because it is not diagnosed by its cause but on observed behaviors. The Autism-Society (n.d.) stated that a possibility for the cause of autism is the abnormalities in the brain structure or function. In an MRI research study by Piven et al. (1995), they found that an individual with autism spectrum disorder had a higher total brain volume and tissue compared to a person who is not on the autism spectrum disorder. Genetic problems and environmental factors can be a cause of autism spectrum disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic (2014). In genetic problems such as fragile X syndrome or Rett Syndrome, it can be associated with autism spectrum disorder. There is ongoing research regarding environmental factors and exploring ideas such as viral infections, pregnancy complications, and / or air pollutants to determine if they are active factors of autism spectrum disorder.
Yet, the research has suggested that Autism Spectrum Disorder results from different series of factors including genetic, environmental, and neurobiological that demonstrate the characteristics of the behavioral symptoms associated with autism (“Autism,” n.d.). Furthermore, besides still not knowing the etiology of autism, it has been proven that there are many subtypes of Autism Spectrum Disorders.