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The amygdala, cerebellum, and many other brain regions have been implicated in autism. [15]Unlike some brain disorders which have clear molecular hallmarks that can be observed in every affected individual, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, autism does not have a unifying mechanism at the molecular, cellular, or systems level.
Autism spectrum disorder [a] (ASD), or simply autism, is a neurodevelopmental disorder "characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts" and "restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities". [11] Sensory abnormalities are also included in the diagnostic manuals ...
A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis found that children with a family history of autoimmune diseases were at a greater risk of autism compared to children without such a history. [ 107 ] When an underlying maternal autoimmune disease is present, antibodies circulating to the fetus could contribute to the development of autism spectrum ...
For ASD other than autism the association is much weaker: the same study reported typical levels of intelligence in about 94% of 53 children with PDD-NOS. [49] Estimates are that 40–69% of individuals with ASD have some degree of an intellectual disability, [ 31 ] with females more likely to be in severe range of an intellectual disability.
Identical twin studies put autism's heritability in a range between 36% and 95.7%, with concordance for a broader phenotype usually found at the higher end of the range. [28] Autism concordance in siblings and fraternal twins is anywhere between 0 and 23.5%. This is more likely 2–4% for classic autism and 10–20% for a broader spectrum.
In children, incorporating a child's special interest into their education has been shown to improve learning outcomes, [31] [29] increase attention on learning topics [32] and teach behaviours such as sportsmanship. [33] Students have been shown to write better when writing about their special interest compared to a control topic. [34]
Rett syndrome brain samples and autism brain samples show immaturity of dendrite spines and reduction of cell-body size due to errors in coupled regulation between MECP2 and EGR2. [62] However, because of the multigene involvement in autism, the MECP2 gene has only been identified as a vulnerability factor in autism. [63]
Classic autism, also known as childhood autism, autistic disorder, or Kanner's syndrome, is a formerly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder first described by Leo Kanner in 1943. It is characterized by atypical and impaired development in social interaction and communication as well as restricted, repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests.