In recent years, the diagnosis rate of autism in children has become higher and higher, and why do children suffer from autism has become a big puzzle for parents?
However, in the current study, because the etiology of autism is very complex, hundreds of related genes and acquired environmental factors are involved. The cause of autism has not been clearly discovered. #儿童自闭症 #
But what are the possible factors that contribute to autism? What are the rumors about the causes of autism? What is the scientific explanation?
Myth 1: Vaccination
As far as domestic and foreign scientific research is concerned, this assumption is baseless.
Under the "vaccine overload" assumption, getting many vaccines immediately can overwhelm a child's immune system and lead to autism. This hypothesis has no scientific basis and is biologically implausible.
Myth 2: Intestinal dysbacteriosis can lead to autism
Currently, we cannot tell whether dysbacteriosis is a cause or a consequence of a disease.
For example, what is the difference in the frequency of coughing between people who have a cold and people who do not? It goes without saying that people with colds cough more frequently, indicating that colds are related to coughing. However, we will not say that it was the cough that caused the cold.
When we compare the gut microbiota of autistic and non-autistic children, if we find a difference, we will not immediately say that it is the difference in intestinal flora that causes autism. Because, it may also be an eating disorder in autistic children, resulting in differences in intestinal flora.
Attached: ☛ Autism Screening Scale [Assess whether the child has autism]
The following gives you a more credible scientific explanation from genetics, pregnancy, etc.:
1. Genetic factors (Genes) dominate autism
According to the current findings, autism is associated with 300-600 genes, but specific genes have not yet been identified.
According to the latest twin studies, the estimated heritability is between 60% and 90%. Among many twins, the odds are very high that one has autism and the other has a learning disability or social disability. In direct siblings with different births, the risk of newborns on the autism spectrum may be as high as 30%.
2. The prenatal environment, pregnancy and perinatal period will affect the occurrence of autism to varying degrees
(1) Prenatal Environment
The risk of autism is also associated with many prenatal risk factors, including older parents, parents with diabetes, and the risk of maternal use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy.
It also includes:
- Viral infection
Prenatal exposure to rubella or cytomegalovirus activates the mother's immune response and may greatly increase the risk of autism. Infection in early pregnancy may have a greater impact on infection than in late pregnancy, not only for autism, but also for psychiatric disorders of presumed neurodevelopmental origin, particularly schizophrenia.
- Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
Maternal inflammation and autoimmune diseases can damage embryonic and fetal tissues, exacerbate genetic problems, or damage the nervous system.
(2) Pregnancy
Diabetes in the mother is an important risk factor for autism. A 2009 analysis found that fetuses with gestational diabetes tripled the risk. A 2014 study also found that maternal diabetes was significantly associated with an increased risk of autism.
Maternal nutritional deficiencies before and during pregnancy can affect the neurodevelopment of the fetus. Intrauterine growth restriction in term and preterm infants is associated with autism.
(3) Perinatal Environment (28 weeks of pregnancy, one week after delivery, which is an important period before and after delivery)
Autism is associated with a number of perinatal and obstetric disease factors. These include low birth weight and duration of pregnancy, as well as hypoxia at delivery. There is growing evidence that perinatal exposure to air pollution may be a risk factor for autism.
To sum up, the causes of autism are very complex. Heredity is the main cause. External environmental factors during acquired pregnancy and some congenital physical factors of the mother may cause autism.
At the current level of research, even if there are corresponding hypotheses, it is difficult to find out. From a practical point of view, the golden recovery period of children is what they can grasp most as a parent at the moment.