FOTD: What is Autism and what causes it?

Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and April is Autism Awareness Month. Today AutismSpeaks.org is trying to raise awareness by shining a light on Autism. A big blue light! You can find more information and join the over 62,000 others who have signed up to Light it up Blue today by visiting www.LightItUpBlue.org .

Right click this image, save as, and go use it as your Facebook profile pic for the day.

There are many reasons to join the Light It Up Blue campaign, but none more important than today’s Fact of the Day.

What is Autism?

The simplest, scariest, and saddest answer – We do not know! That is why it is so important to raise awareness and money for research to try and find a better answer than that.

Now to get a little more detailed I defer to the experts.

From the AutismSpeaks.org web site:

Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). The other pervasive developmental disorders are PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not
Otherwise Specified), Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Many parents and professionals refer to this group as Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Its causes:

The simple answer is we don’t know. The vast majority of cases of autism are idiopathic, which means the cause is unknown.

The more complex answer is that just as there are different levels of severity and combinations of symptoms in autism, there are probably multiple causes. The best scientific evidence available to us today points toward a potential for various combinations of factors causing autism – multiple genetic components that may cause autism on their own or possibly when combined with exposure to as yet undetermined environmental factors. Timing of exposure during the child’s development (before, during or after birth) may also play a role in the development or final presentation of the disorder.

A small number of cases can be linked to genetic disorders such as Fragile X, Tuberous Sclerosis, and Angelman’s Syndrome, as well as exposure to environmental agents such as infectious ones (maternal rubella or cytomegalovirus) or chemical ones (thalidomide or valproate) during pregnancy.

There is a growing interest among researchers about the role of the functions and regulation of the immune system in autism – both within the body and the brain. Piecemeal evidence over the past 30 years suggests that autism may involve inflammation in the central nervous system. There is also emerging evidence from animal studies that illustrates how the immune system can influence behaviors related to autism. Autism Speaks is working to extend awareness and investigation of potential immunological issues to researchers outside the field of autism as well as those within the autism research community.

So please go visit their site today and Light It Up Blue.

You can also make a donation while there.

Or visit – www.hollyrod.org to donate to the HollyRod Foundation.