10 Possible Causes for Autism - Autistic World News (2023)

FAQs

What are the 3 main causes of autism? ›

There are many different factors that have been identified that may make a child more likely to have ASD, including environmental, biologic, and genetic factors.

Genetics. Genetic factors may be the most significant cause of autism. Early studies of twins had estimated heritability to be over 90%, meaning that genetics explains over 90% of whether a child will develop autism.

Since autism is less prevalent in females, autism was always thought to be passed down from the mother. However, research suggests that autism genes are usually inherited from the father. One of the most common questions asked by parents of children with autism is which parent carries the autism gene.

High levels of stress during pregnancy may also be connected to autism in children. This connection appears to have the most impact when the parent experiences stress between weeks 25 and 28 of pregnancy.

Advanced parental age at time of conception. Prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides. Maternal obesity, diabetes, or immune system disorders. Extreme prematurity or very low birth weight.

While autism is never caused by trauma, there may be something about living with autism that is inherently traumatic.

The concept of autism was coined in 1911 by the German psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler to describe a symptom of the most severe cases of schizophrenia, a concept he had also created.

What makes autism worse? ›

Many individuals with autism have co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, or OCD. These conditions can exacerbate the symptoms of autism and make it worse. To manage co-occurring conditions, individuals with autism may need to receive treatment and therapy for each condition.

Autism is likely to have multiple genes responsible rather than a single gene. However, it is not caused by emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up.

Advances in diagnostic capabilities and greater understanding and awareness of autism spectrum disorder seem to be largely driving the increase, the Rutgers researchers said. But there's probably more to the story: Genetic factors, and perhaps some environmental ones, too, might also be contributing to the trend.

In the United States, prenatal genetic testing (PGT) for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is currently available via clinical genetic services. Such testing may inform parents about their unborn child's risk for ASD, prepare parents for the birth of an affected infant, and allow them to arrange for early interventions.

Study Finds 80% Risk From Inherited Genes. A new study looking at autism in 5 countries found that 80 percent of autism risk can be traced to inherited genes rather than environmental factors and random mutations.

A study of over 7,700 children born during the pandemic has found that those infants whose mothers tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy had increased risk of a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis during their first 12 months of life.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that affects normal brain development. The recent finding of the microbiota–gut–brain axis indicates the bidirectional connection between our gut and brain, demonstrating that gut microbiota can influence many neurological disorders such as autism.

Boys have a risk of developing ASD that is five times greater than girls, with one in every 48 boys and one in every 252 girls diagnosed. The reason for this disparity is not currently understood. In fact, scientists are still searching for the answers as to why autism occurs in the first place.

Epidemiological studies have shown that hormone abnormalities in pregnant women are a significant potential risk factor for autism in offspring and that sex hormones may be part of the cause of autism.

While autism and narcissism have some overlapping symptoms, such as difficulty with social interaction, it is important to note that they are two distinct conditions. However, there have been cases where individuals with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) have been misdiagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

What happens in the brain of an autistic child? ›

In the autistic brain, the brain reduced connectivity, known as hypoconnectivity, allows weakly connected regions to drift apart, with sulci forming between them.” Research has shown the deeper theses sulcal pits are, the more language production is affected.

Can a brain injury cause autism? While many symptoms of TBI and autism overlap, there is currently no evidence to suggest that a brain injury causes an increased risk of autism.

Developmental Approaches

The most common developmental therapy for people with ASD is Speech and Language Therapy. Speech and Language Therapy helps to improve the person's understanding and use of speech and language. Some people with ASD communicate verbally.

Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one per 160 children. The prevalence in the Middle East is still unknown, largely due to a lack of diagnoses or a lack of acceptance from parents.

According to the ADDM Network, California is the state that has the highest prevalence of autism diagnoses, with it being 30+ out of every 1,000 identified children in 2018.

Clonakilty in County Cork, Ireland, and Austin in Minnesota, United States are two communities that have chosen to embrace neurodiversity, and more specifically, autism.

Due to its lower prevalence in females, autism was always thought to have a maternal inheritance component. However, research also suggests that the rarer variants associated with autism are mostly inherited from the father. Ultimately, autism is a complex condition with 100s of genes involved.

Donald Triplett, in full Donald Gray Triplett, (born September 1933, Forest, Mississippi, U.S.), American male who was the first person diagnosed with autism. Triplett was the eldest son of an affluent family; his mother's family had founded the local bank in Forest, Mississippi, and his father was an attorney.

It's something you're born with. Signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older. If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life. Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a "cure".

Which fruit is good for autism? ›

fruits such as apples, avocados, blueberries, kiwi fruit, grapes, plums, strawberries, vegetables such as cauliflower, cucumber, mushrooms, radish, eggplant, spinach, tomato, broccoli. nuts such as peanuts, pistachios, almonds.

The best food for children with autism are fatty fish, eggs, grass-fed beef, sustainably raised animal proteins, shellfish, beans, nuts, and seeds. Research has found that fatty fish such as salmon and free-range eggs share the healthy omega 3 acid. Foods that contain omega 3s help fight inflammation in the body.

Due to the behavioural, information processing and sensory aspects of their diagnosis, many people on the autism spectrum often prefer familiar environments with a predictable routine. Restricted and repetitive interests, sensory processing differences and heightened anxiety can make even small changes stressful.

A variety of research has shown that the most effective form of parenting when dealing with ASD is Authoritative parenting, and the study shows that mothers tend use more of permissive form of parenting which may have an adverse effect on the behavioural problems of children with ASD.

There is some evidence to suggest that brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation at birth may increase an infant's risk of developing disorders such as autism. A recent study in the US estimated that complications at birth may increase the risk of ASD in children by as much as 10%.

“Firstborn offspring of two older parents,” Durkin's study noted, “were three times more likely to develop autism than were third- or later-born offspring of mothers aged twenty to thirty-four and fathers aged under forty years.”

If someone in your family has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you may be more likely to have a child with ASD. ASD can look very different from person to person, so taking a careful family health history can be important for early diagnosis.

ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.

Neuroradiology researchers are increasingly using MRI to assess autism. In recent research conducted at the University of Utah, researchers examining brain connectivity in autism patients concluded that MRI may be a viable diagnostic tool for children with autism.

A routine prenatal ultrasound can identify early signs of autism, study finds. Summary: A routine prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester can identify early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a new study has found.

When is autism detected in pregnancy? ›

Autism can be seen by doctors at a very early stage of pregnancy, even during the second trimester. To detect typically requires brain scans and additional checkups. Nothing conclusive can be made until a woman has delivered the baby and the child is examined further by psychologists.

Autism is significantly more common in boys than in girls. This skewed sex ratio has been recognized since the first cases of autism were described in the 1940s. The exact reasons for the ratio remain unclear. It could be rooted in biological differences between the sexes.

Yes, autistic people can have kids.

Although there is a chance of passing on certain genetic conditions associated with autism, many couples in which one or both partners are on the autism spectrum choose to have children and research suggests that this is generally a positive experience.

ASD Level 2 – In the mid-range of ASD is Level 2. In this level, individuals require substantial support and have problems that are more readily obvious to others. These issues may be trouble with verbal communication, having very restricted interests, and exhibiting frequent, repetitive behaviors.

Due to its lower prevalence in females, autism was always thought to have a maternal inheritance component. However, research also suggests that the rarer variants associated with autism are mostly inherited from the father. Ultimately, autism is a complex condition with 100s of genes involved.

It may come either from the Y chromosome or the X chromosome. However, research states that, in most cases, it comes from the male chromosome (Y). According to research, changes in genetic variants that control gene functioning also play a crucial role in developing autism.

A routine prenatal ultrasound can identify early signs of autism, study finds. Summary: A routine prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester can identify early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a new study has found.

The chances of anyone in the general population having an autistic child are about 1 in 1000 or 0.1%. So, while the risk is real, the chances of you and your husband having an autistic child are still very low.

The behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often appear early in development. Many children show symptoms of autism by 12 months to 18 months of age or earlier.

What country has the most autism? ›