Autism-Causes

• Abnormalities in brain structure or function
• Unstable genes interfering with brain development
• Environmental toxins
• MMR virus
• Mercury
• Yeast infections
• Intolerance to certain food substances
• Constitutional vulnerability
• Developmental aphasia
• Deficits in the reticular activating system
• Psychogenic and neurodevelopmental factors
• Structural cerebeller changes
• Genetic causes
• Leaky gut syndrome
• Phenolsulphertransferase (PST) deficiency
• Brain injury
• Viral causes
• Immunological ties
• Seizures
• Cytolomegalo virus
• Sensory issues
• Sulfate deficiency
• Immune dysfunction
• Pertussis virus
• Salicylates
• Enzyme deficiency
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Opioid excess
• Vitamin deficiency

        However, despite the numerous theories put forward, the most common would be genetics, brain abnormalities, gut/intestinal tract abnormalities, and mercury in vaccines.

        Though no genes have actually been identified as causing Autism, a pattern of Autism Spectrum Disabilities has often been seen to run in families. In addition, it appears that some people are born with a susceptibility to Autism, such as in studies that seem to show monozygotic twins (identical twins), are more likely to both be affected by Autism then dizygotic twins (fraternal twins), where there is a lesser genetic overlap.

        In addition, recent studies using brain scans seem to show abnormalities in the shape and structure of Autistic brains. For example, several post-mortem brains of autistic individuals appear to have have a underdeveloped amygdala and the hippocampus which are two areas in the limbic system responsible for emotions, aggression, sensory perception, and learning. Yet, the cause of neither these abnormalities nor their influence is known.

        As for the gut/intestinal tract abnormalities, there is increasing evidence that the gut/intestinal tracts in autistics are impaired. Researchers have found overgrowths of candida albicans, a type of yeast, as well as finding measles virus in their intestinal tracts. These are suspected to cause �leaky gut,� that is, when the gut becomes porous, or �leaky.� This condition becomes harmful when proteins in food are not broken down fully. When proteins are not broken down into single amino acids, they remain as short chains of them, called peptides. With leaky gut, the peptides may get out of the intestinal tract into the bloodstream (where they shouldn�t be). In the bloodstream, the peptides react with the internal chemicals, called endorphins, at certain areas of the body called opioid receptors. This slows the brain down and should they get into the brain, they act similarly to the drugs morphine and heroin!

        Lastly, mercury in vaccines has been suspected to cause Autism as many parents seemed have their child regress into Autism, (regressing into Autism at about age 1 � to 2 sometimes happens) after their child received vaccines. A disease that is now rare was acrodynia, or �Pink Disease.� This was often caused by mercury that was previously in teething powders. Though most babies died, some recovered and many of them exhibited Autistic traits. However, how is the mercury in vaccines at all? Thimerosal, an agent that is used in vaccines as a preservative is 49.6 % mercury by weight. If the amount of mercury in the vaccines a child receives is totaled up, it is significantly more then the acceptable amount. Yet, many children�s bodies are luckily able to excrete most of that mercury. This issue is highly controversial and the validity of this theory is unknown.

        Though Kanner first described Autism in 1943, there is still little known about the causes of Autism other then that is not caused by psychological factors.


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