Prenatal Inflammation Linked to Autism Grace Fenton
During early pregnancy, maternal inflammation may be related to an increased risk of autism in children. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recently did a study on mothers with elevated C-reactive protein. Included in the study were results showing that mothers with CRP levels in the top 20th percentile, were 43 times more likely to have a child with autism. This is an important discovery in that now, scientists can diagnose it early on, they can prepare parents for raising an autistic child. In the study, scientists were able to figure out that elevated levels of CRP is a leading cause for mothers to have autistic kids. I chose this topic because I work for the Red
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Dr. Alan Brown, an MD and professor at Columbia University, was the leading doctor of this study. “We don’t know enough yet to suggest routine testing of pregnant mothers for CRP for this reason alone,” he says. “However, exercising precautionary measures to prevent infections during pregnancy may be of considerable value.” The study is still new, and doctors are not sure that it means much at this point, as Dr. Brown says, more research and validation is needed for it to become routine, but they are taking careful steps in early diagnosis of autism.
So far, no other doctors or research teams have assessed the connection between CRP levels and autism. However, Alycia Halladay, a senior director of environmental and clinical sciences, says that “While research has shown that maternal infection is a risk factor for autism, this is the first study to identify a biomarker of that infection during pregnancy. Future studies may help explain how infections or other inflammatory events during pregnancy interact with known autism risk genes,” she says. “Such studies may also lead to protective intervention measures.” While there aren’t any other studies on Brown’s initial study, others agree with and support the results and means.
Another way of knowing whether or not your child has autism, is waiting until he or she is born and testing their social and communication behaviors. In
Many believe the measles mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine triggers autism spectrum disorder in some children. Many Hollywood celebrities in the acting community that have birthed children that suffer from autism spectrum disorder have concluded that this is how their child developed autism. These celebrities being very vocal about this link between vaccinations and autism spectrum disorders and have in turn influenced the increase in many ordinary middle-class parents refraining from getting the medically recommended vaccinations for their children. The medical community has done extensive research on this theory. However, to this date no reliable study shows a link between autism spectrum disorder and the measles mumps-rubella vaccine. In fact, the medical community have continued to recommend childhood vaccinations and continue to emphasis the danger of a non vaccinated child catching and spreading serious diseases like whooping cough (pertussis), measles and mumps (Mayo Clinic, 2012).
Do you ever wonder why some autistic children act differently from others? Autism Spectrum Disorder affects three different areas of a child's life; it affects social interactions, communication skills, and their behaviors and interest. Every child is different and has their own way of expressing themselves (Autism Response). Some children may have better social skills than others. Autistic kids do not know how to express themselves so they do so through their different behaviors. Many autistic children are even nonverbal and will make different noises to communicate. It is very easy for a child with Autism to get upset because of their sensory, emotional, and cognitive difficulties. Sensory problems, emotional difficulties, and uneven cognitive abilities are all symptoms of Autism. Some more than others, but these are the most common symptoms of Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder). For example, many of Autistic children can not express themselves like others who do not have the disorder. In many instances, it is very frustrating for both the child and whomever they are speaking to. If the child doesn't babble, coo, gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months, doesn't speak not one single word by 16 months, and doesn't say any short 2 word phrases on their own by 24 months old they may have autism (Autism Spectrum Disorders Health Center). If a child is not showing any fine motor skills by 12 months, and not
Autism Spectrum Disorder is defined as a neurodevelopmental condition that is classified by a triad of impairments. These impairments are in communication, socialization, and repetitive patterns of behavior (Wolf, 2004). Autism affects about 1% of the current population (Shishido, Branko, & Norio, 2013). This disorder seems like a common diagnosis in the current day in age but the disorder was only discovered around sixty years ago. The two founding researchers that discovered the disorder are Kanner and Asperger. Since then there has been a significant amount of research on the disorder and they have narrowed down the criteria associated with Autism. Since the discovery of Autism Spectrum Disorder, there has been many debates on what causes this condition. When it was, a recent discovery scientist thought it could have been caused by many factors including psychological conditions and poor parenting. Now research has shifted in another direction (Wolf, 2004). In recent years, there has been a debate if childhood vaccinations or genetic mutations cause the disorder. This debate has led many parents to stop vaccinating their children in case it does cause the disorder. In 2010 (de los Reyes) the immunization rates fell to 80%. These parents’ decisions greatly effects the nation’s public health so it has fueled even more research to find the cause. A very common vaccine that has been said to cause the disorder is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine or the MMR vaccine. This
Fombonne, E. (2000,November, 20). Is there an epidemic of autism? Pediatrics, Retrieved January 20, 2008, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/107/2/411?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=eric+fombonne&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
autism were studied, it was suggested that measles was related to autism. Seven years later they did another study that involved 4000 children and found just the opposite, shots had no connection to causing a person to receive the diagnosis of autism”. (Offit 1) (Thinktwice 1) There are probably multiple causes for
Several environmental factors have also been suspected of attributing to the cause of autism such as: exposure to infectious disease, heavy metals, phthalates and phenols, pesticides, alcohol, illicit drugs, advanced maternal age, maternal bleeding during pregnancy, maternal medications used during pregnancy and maternal stress (Glasson et al., 2004). The research conducted by Glasson et al., (2004) shows that individuals who were later diagnosed with autism were more likely to have experienced obstetric difficulties during pregnancy, labor, delivery and neonatal period. Advanced maternal age was the strongest finding in that study.
The purpose of this research is to find whether there is an actual link between childhood vaccines (MMR) and autism. The research also aimed to dispute the notion that MMR vaccines caused autism.
In 1998, the British medical journal called The Lancet published a controversial research paper written by Andrew Wakefield. In the research paper “Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children, ” Andrew Wakefield et al. attempted to link MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) vaccinations and autism. Nevertheless, the paper seemed to successfully do that. However, this was not known was at the time was Wakefield had tampered with the findings. Furthermore, this was brought to light in 2004 by British journalist Brian Deer. In 2011, thirteen years after The Lancet published the paper, and seven years after Brian Deer exposed the paper. The Lancet finally retracted the article. A common theory
The diagnosis of autism has increased in the past twenty to thirty years, which has many people wondering and seeking the cause of this increase. Some say the increase is due to better diagnostics and more awareness (Gerber, 2009) & (Rimland, 2009). Still others cling to the theory that the MMR vaccination is the cause of autism (Goldschmidt, 2014).
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
There has been much research and debate on whether vaccines cause autism, however, there is no evidence that Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccination is associated to autism. Parental age and pregnancy complications have been the most studied risk factors for ASD especially low birth weight and prematurity. Three of five studies have found low birth weight to have a significant association with autism spectrum disorder. Mothers aged 35 years and older and fathers aged 40 to 49 years have also found significant associations with autism. Pregnancy complications have been found to be significantly associated with ASD according to a 2012 systematic review. Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal overall health have been explored by many studies. A cohort
However, the theory of vaccinations causing autism was proven wrong. No evidence has been found to connect autism to vaccines. “There remains no convincing evidence of harm caused by low levels of thimerosal in vaccines” says the Vaccine Advisory Committee (Benjamin 2003). One explanation for the once associated risk was that kids are tested for autism at the same age they are administered their first vaccinations. A doctor says that while some parents are worried that vaccines may be linked to autism, the theory has been scientifically discredited and should not be a factor to worry about (Reddy 2015). While some parents may still try to link the false theory together, they will continue to come up with an argument that has no evidence to back their theory up. A study done by the institute of medicine came to a conclusion that a
Secondary causes of autism include pre-natal care, environmental factors, chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders. Environmental factors most notably, are the role of vaccinations, specifically those with the preservative thimerosal (Caronna, Milunsky, & Tager-Flusberg, 2008). The most common genetic disorder associated with autism is fragile X syndrome. Scientists continue to investigate the etiology of ASD. Current research seems to support two etiologies of autism: Early Onset of Autism vs. Regressive Autism (Bristol-Power, 2006). There is optimism that specific causes and risk factors will be identified. The results of future investigations will facilitate enhanced screening, prevention, and therapy for "at risk" and autistic patients (CMN, 2010).
However, the ages at which these two events occur are purely coincidental because no scientific links exist between autism and vaccines, but findings on other possible causes of autism exist. In recent years, researchers have established plausible theories about the causes of autism which the government should support by increasing the funding to advance this research. Not only will more funding help answer major questions about autism, but it will also help “anti-vaxxers” recognize the disparity between vaccines and autism. Specifically, researchers have found that children with autism show a different growth rate in areas of the brain are responsible for skills typically impaired by autism. Also, researchers found that children with autism show abnormalities in their prefrontal and cortical tissue which develops during the pregnancy, a time period much sooner than vaccines administration (Evidence). Thus, showing not only is autism not caused by vaccines, but there is also a genetic component to them. It is abundantly clear that researchers have found substantial evidence demonstrating autism is linked to genetics and not vaccines; therefore, it is important for the government to increase funding towards finding more concrete causes of
One the biggest psychological disorders in our society is childhood autism. Childhood autism is defined as “A pervasive developmental disorder defined by the presence of abnormal and/or impaired development that is manifest before the age of 3 years, and by the characteristic type of abnormal functioning in all three areas of social interaction, communication, and restricted, repetitive behaviour.” (MHresource.org). Furthermore, boys are three to four more times likely to develop childhood autism than girls (MHresources.org). Statistics also show that the prevalence of childhood autism in births is one in fifty-nine and has grown 119.4 percent from 2000 to 2010 (CDC). Now, researchers are looking into what causes childhood autism. They are