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Genetics is thought to be one of the main causes of autism in some forms. Twins and siblings who are born within a few years of one another are more likely to have the condition. A study in 1977 of eleven pairs of identical twins and ten pairs of fraternal twins found that there was a 36 percent similarity in autism symptoms between identical and fraternal twins. However, more studies need to determine how many chromosomes involve in autism.
Environmental factors
The evidence that environmental factors can cause autism is still in its early stages, but there are several factors that believe to associate with the development of this developmental disorder. The best-known environmental risk factor is maternal infection during pregnancy. Other factors include air pollution, birth defects, and obesity. In addition to the known risk factors, there are other factors that could increase your child’s risk of autism.
Genetics and environment both play an important role in the development of autism, but the roles of each are not clear. There are dozens of genes, implicated in autism, but geneticists disagree on which ones are responsible for the condition. The newest research is focusing on the combination of genetics and environment.
Autism cause by differences in brain structure and function. Scientists are still working to understand the underlying biological patho-mechanisms, but there are some clear clues. Recent studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms and copy number variations among autistic patients. This is promising news, but more research needs to find a definitive cause of autism.
The connection between environmental exposures and autism has long been suspected. However, there is a long lag between exposures and autism, and scientists must reassemble the events of early childhood to determine if there is a link. In addition, parents’ memories are often hazy, and it is difficult to determine what factors may have caused their child to develop autism. However, scientists can reconstruct the factors that could explain autism from medical records.
While genetics and environmental factors are not considered definite causes of autism, scientists have made significant progress in identifying and studying genes and the relationships between these factors and autism. These discoveries may lead to new treatments and advances in personalized medicine. Increased autism awareness will help researchers develop new treatments for the disorder. In the meantime, there are many other factors that may play a role in the development of autism.
Environmental factors may also increase the risk of autism in genetically predisposed individuals. For example, the timing of childhood vaccinations may correlate with autism. However, vaccines are, not yet known to cause autism. In addition, studies conducted outside of the CDC point to metal adjuvants in vaccines as a possible cause of autism.
Bacterial or viral infections in the mother’s womb
Researchers have linked bacterial or viral infections in the mother’s uterus to autism. They found 903 cases of autism among children whose mothers were, hospitalized during pregnancy. In comparison, 61,642 children were born with no signs of autism. The risk of autism was 37 percent higher among children whose mothers were, hospitalized during their pregnancy. And this link held even when the infections were different kinds.
Researchers have studied the effect of maternal infections on autism risk in children who are siblings of people with autism. They found that preventing the infection in the mother’s womb reduced the risk of autism in the siblings. But this finding was not able to prove that bacterial or viral infections during pregnancy cause autism.
The study was, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative. Other funding sources included the National Institutes of Health and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. These funds allowed researchers to study the connection between viral or bacterial infections and autism.
Pregnant women should get an influenza vaccination. Although the flu shot is not harmful to pregnant women, it is safe for the baby’s development. However, it is important for women to avoid infections during pregnancy. Doctors should screen their patients for infection, educate them about the risks, and treat illnesses promptly. Infections during pregnancy can cause inflammation in the baby’s brain. If the inflammation is too intense, it could result in a child with cerebral palsy.
There are currently no pharmaceuticals, approved to cure autism. This is a complex neurological disorder with multiple causes. Researchers say there are several genetic and environmental factors involved in developing autism. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every 44 children has autism. The condition is more common in males than in females. The placenta supports the fetus’ development and provides essential hormones and neurotransmitters that the child’s developing brain needs.
MMR vaccine
The question of whether the MMR vaccine causes autism is, often asked, but the answer is not clear. Many people believe that the vaccine causes autism, but there is no direct evidence that it does. Recent studies have raised concerns about autism and the MMR vaccine. Taylor, B., and Zakarian, R., published a study on the topic.
The study did not find a causal connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, but did find a temporal association between autism and intestinal symptoms. The authors concluded that the link is not conclusive, but they do caution that public perception of the risk of autism can affect vaccine uptake and contribute to an increase in vaccine-preventable disease.
The findings of the Wakefield study were, widely disputed. It involved only twelve children, which is too small to draw reliable conclusions. The study also contained many flaws, including the fact that some children who were vaccinated already had developmental problems. Others never had a diagnosis of autism – making it even more difficult to draw conclusions. The truth is that many factors influence a child’s risk for autism, including genetics, environment, and prenatal exposures. However, in most cases, autism is not a life-threatening disorder.
The Wakefield study was eventually discredited after the findings were revealed to be unreliable. The Lancet later retracted the paper and Wakefield lost his medical license. In addition, no one has been able to replicate Wakefield’s study. Even the British Medical Association took action against Wakefield, based on the lack of evidence that Wakefield’s findings were accurate.
There is a lack of data regarding whether the MMR vaccine causes autism, but many studies show that the vaccine can prevent some types of autism. The research also shows that autism rates are not directly linked, so there is no direct evidence supporting the claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism. So, it is important for parents to get accurate information about vaccines before they make decisions. That way, they can ensure their children’s health and avoid spending money on quack therapies.
The findings of the United Kingdom study suggest that autism does not cause by the MMR vaccine, and that the association between the two has exaggerated. Researchers examined data from computerized health records from eight health districts. They found that the number of children diagnosed with autism had increased over time, and that the rates of MMR vaccination had not changed. The investigators also found that the age at which autism was diagnosed did not correlate with the rates of autism in children.
