| The causes of autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder | | | | as autistic and unusually high heavy metal levels in their |
| that causes delays in language used in social | | | | blood. If the body's ability to eliminate or diffuse certain |
| communications, social interaction, and even imaginative | | | | metals is defective, a high concentration can build up |
| play, have not as yet been definitively determined. | | | | and this seems to block some social solving skill areas |
| There are a variety of possible causes of autism. | | | | in the brain. This heavy metal retention creates an |
| Autism studies are ongoing and is increasing, as the | | | | imbalance in the ratio of glutathione, which is the body's |
| numbers of people being diagnosed with autism seem | | | | tool for detoxifying or eliminating metals. One in five |
| to increase yearly. Part of the problem is that | | | | measurements of autistic children showed an |
| symptoms can vary greatly between subjects, making | | | | impairment in their ability to properly eliminate metals. |
| a definitive study difficult to conduct. However, many | | | | Other environmental factors have also been shown to |
| researches and studies have shown that genetics are | | | | contribute to the causes of autism. These include use |
| likely to play a big role as a determining factor. | | | | of solvents, alcohol, phenols(used in products made of |
| If a child has a sibling who is autistic, it is much more | | | | plastic) and illicit drugs. |
| likely that he or she might also suffer from the disorder. | | | | There are studies which find a connection between |
| The cause of autism is being heavily researched. | | | | the rubella illness in the first trimester of pregnancy and |
| Some researchers are looking for one gene as the | | | | autism. These include studies on the effects of being |
| primary cause, while others believe it is three to five | | | | vaccinated during the first trimester of pregnancy. |
| genes linked together which cause this disorder. | | | | Concerns are for the MMR shot, especially the |
| Genetic research has widened to include looking at | | | | measles portion as well as the pertussis aspect of the |
| other body systems. Some studies show that a cause | | | | DPT vaccine. Although not yet conclusive, researchers |
| of autism may be a depressed immune system while | | | | are informing women not to be vaccinated while |
| others connect it to family members with depression | | | | pregnant. As you can see, there are not yet |
| or dyslexia. With these disorders on both sides of the | | | | conclusive answers to the causes of autism. However, |
| family tree, the chances of having an autistic child | | | | targeted research into the many possible causes of |
| appear to increase. | | | | autism is ongoing and there is hope for a breakthrough |
| Some studies have shown a link in people diagnosed | | | | in the future. |