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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.
Iryna Spodarenko / GettyWe’ve come a long way in our understanding of autism since it was first used as a clinical description in 1943. Scientists have identified some of the genes that seem to ...
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 ...
The following chapters investigate the biological background of autism and how historically it was claimed to be either the result of direct brain damage or poor parenting and how the practice of diagnostic classification, or nosology, negatively impacted the understanding of children with autism and others on the spectrum.
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.
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.
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]
Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of mental conditions affecting the development of the nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord.According to the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, published in 2013, these conditions generally appear in early childhood, usually before children start school, and can ...