Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
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.
A 2018 review suggests that the frequent association of gastrointestinal disorders and autism is due to abnormalities of the gut–brain axis. [109] The "leaky gut syndrome" hypothesis developed by Andrew Wakefield, known for his fraudulent study on another cause of autism, is popular among parents of children with autism.
Autism is associated with several genetic disorders, [4] perhaps due to an overlap in genetic causes. [5] About 10–15% of autism cases have an identifiable Mendelian (single-gene) condition, chromosome abnormality, or other genetic syndrome, [6] a category referred to as syndromic autism.
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 ...
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 ...
Deletion (1), duplication (2), and inversion (3) are all chromosome abnormalities that have been implicated in autism. [36] The exact causes of autism are unknown, but it is believed that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. [37]
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]
Specifically, proponents of the imprinted brain hypothesis propose that autism spectrum disorders are caused by paternal overimprinting, while schizophrenia spectrum disorders are caused by maternal overimprinting; they point to a number of supposed correlations and anticorrelations seen between the disorders and other traits to support the ...