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What Causes Autism? Genetic & Environmental Factors
August 8, 2023
The exact cause of autism is unknown, but scientists believe it’s likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
What Causes Autism?
The exact cause of autism is unknown, but scientists believe it’s likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Research suggests that certain combinations of genes can increase the risk of autism, but there are also many other potential causes—such as exposure to toxins or infections during pregnancy—that may play a role.
Additionally, some research indicates that stress during pregnancy may be associated with higher rates of autism. However, this is still an area of study and not yet fully understood.
Research also indicates that for people with autism, changes in brain structure or chemistry may also contribute to their symptoms. For example, one common finding among those on the autism spectrum is that some regions of their brains have more cells than normal and others have fewer cells than normal.
Additionally, certain proteins related to communication between brain cells do not function properly in people with autism.
It is important to know that these changes are often very subtle and require sophisticated imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans to observe.
Ultimately, the cause of autism is still greatly debated and researchers continue to investigate potential genetic and environmental factors.
At this time, there are no known cures for autism, but early intervention and treatment can help improve a person’s quality of life. With continued study, medical professionals may one day be able to identify causes of autism more precisely and create more effective treatments.
What Are The 3 Main Causes Of Autism?
1. Genetic Factors
Research suggests that some combinations of genes can increase the risk of autism, and that genetic factors may play a role in its development.
2. Environmental Factors
Exposure to toxins or infections during pregnancy, as well as stress during pregnancy, may contribute to autism in some cases.
3. Brain Chemistry/Structure Changes
Changes in brain structure or chemistry related to communication between brain cells have been observed in people with autism. These changes may be associated with certain symptoms of the condition.
What Increases The Risk Of Autism?
Some factors that may increase the risk of autism include:
- Having a family history of autism
- Advanced parental age at time of birth
- History of preterm labor or low birth weight
- Exposure to toxins or infections during pregnancy
- Stress during pregnancy
- Complications after birth, such as oxygen deprivation or seizures
- Birth defects related to the brain or nervous system
- Single gene mutations associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Does Autism Come From The Mother Or Father?
While some research has shown that having an older father may increase the risk of autism, this is not true in every case. There are also many other potential causes—such as exposure to toxins or infections during pregnancy—that may play a role.
Ultimately, the cause of autism is still largely debated and researchers continue to investigate potential genetic and environmental factors.
Can Stress Cause Bedwetting In Autistic Individuals?
Anxiety itself doesn't cause nocturnal enuresis, also known as bedwetting. However, wetting the bed when sleeping has been linked to emotional problems and the toll they take on the body.
Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
Several large studies have looked at whether certain vaccines might be linked with increased rates of autism and have found no evidence to support this claim.
Vaccines are safe and effective ways to protect children from serious illnesses, and they are recommended to protect the health of children.
Myths About What Causes Autism
1. Vaccines cause autism
As discussed above, multiple studies have shown that vaccines do not cause autism.
2. Autism is caused by bad parenting
While the environment in which a child grows up can influence their development, research has not found any evidence that “bad parenting” causes autism.
3. It's all in a person's head (it's psychological)
This myth likely stems from the fact that people with autism often experience difficulty with communication and social interactions, but research has shown that there are underlying physical differences within the brain of someone on the spectrum.
4. People with autism lack empathy
People with autism may express empathy differently than neurotypical individuals, but they still do possess empathy.
5. Autism is caused by technology
There is no scientific evidence to support this claim.
6. People with autism are dangerous
While people with autism may struggle in certain areas, such as communication or self-regulation, there is no evidence that suggests they are more likely to be violent than people without autism.
Summary
Autism is a complex neurological disorder with no known single cause, although genetic and environmental factors are believed to play a role. While some people may believe that vaccines or bad parenting can cause autism, these claims have been disproven by scientific research.
In addition, there are many myths about what causes autism—such as the misconception that people with autism lack empathy—that should be debunked in order to better understand and support those on the spectrum.
By continuing to study the potential causes of autism and seeking out effective treatments, medical professionals can help improve the quality of life for those living with autism.
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