Autism: Researching some causes

August 24, 10:13 AMAllentown Autism & Parenting ExaminerJennifer Moll

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While the exact cause of autism is not clear, research does suggest that when a child with a genetic susceptibility is exposed to one or more environmental insults that cause a dysfunctional interaction between genes and nutrients autism may result either during pregnancy or after birth.

These dysfunctional interactions can affect the body's systems. Usually, the gastrointestinal, endocrine, immune, and central nervous systems can be affected.
 

One study demonstrated a link between the Engrailed 2 gene (EN2) which is involved in normal neural development and autism, suggesting this may contribute up to 40% of autism cases. The study goes on to provide further evidence that EN2 might predispose autism and further suggests that disruptions of EN2 could significantly alter the normal development of the brain.
 

So we now know that there is a genetic component to autism, but genetics alone is not the only contributing factor of autism.
 

Another possible cause is a reduced intake of Omega 3 fatty acids. This reduction impairs the cell membranes that protect each cell, leaving the cells vulnerable which results in neural-developmental disorders.
 

Deficiencies in key nutrients such as zinc, vitamin B2, vitamin 6, and foliate in our diets may weaken the cellular membranes, therefore affecting neural-development.
Antigens, which are foreign toxic matter, heavy metals, viruses, and bacteria, damage the cells by attacking them once the cells are damaged by this attack, they can not carry out their normal function and cause the cell to malfunction.
 

There is also evidence that shows that a dysfunctional methylatin system causes cells to not function properly. Vitamin B6, vitamin B12, foliate, and magnesium help to regulate methylation.
 

Evidence suggests, that either during pregnancy or during the early months of life, autism can be triggered by viral infections, pesticides, insecticides, and prescription drugs like thalidomide and valproic acid. Oxygen deprivation, either during delivery or during the fetal developmental stage in the womb, has also been found to increase the risk of autism.
 

Such environmental factors like air pollution, food additives, mercury in fish, flame retardants, and chemicals used to make plastics and other synthetic materials are being studied for a possible link to autism. We do know that these substances are dangerous to babies because their brains are more likely to absorb toxins and not effective at cleaning the toxins out.
 

These are just a few of the possible causes of autism and researchers continue to work hard at finding other possible links to autism.