What's Your Opinion: Is It Time to Give Up on Finding that "One Cause" for Autism Spectrum Disorders?
Thursday October 19, 2006
In a recent article in Nature Neuroscience, a group of researchers assert it's "time to give up on a single explanation for autism." Here's how they put it:
...if different features of autism are caused by different genes, associated with different brain regions and related to different core cognitive impairments, it seems likely they will respond to different types of treatment. Abandoning the search for a single cause for a single entity of autism may also mean abandoning the search for a single 'cure' or intervention.While many in the autism community would support these findings, there are others who feel strongly that there IS a single cause -- and, in many cases, a cure. What's your take on this finding? Is it time to "give up" on finding that smoking gun -- or, by giving up and seeking multiple causes, are we doing autistic people a grave disservice?
Reference:
Francesca Happé, Angelica Ronald & Robert Plomin. "Time to give up on a single explanation for autism." Nature Neuroscience - 9, 1218 - 1220 (2006) Published online: 26 September 2006; | doi:10.1038/nn1770
Comments
I tend to agree that since there is no one way to “be austic” there is probably no “one reason” or “one cure.” Is there one reason for cancer? Is there one cure for all of it? Nope.
I don’t think there is one single cause of autism. I’ve known lots of people with autism over the years (now that my son is 12 and we’ve been involved in the autism community.) I’ve also read a lot.
There is just such a great variation in severity, kind of symptoms, co-existing problems, etc., that what we call autism is really different syndromes. The symptoms in common might result from there being some overlap in portions of the brain affected. For instance, mental retardation is caused by failure of the brain to work typically, often because of brain damage. Some of the behaviors found in mental retardation — such as difficulty generalizing, rocking, etc. and found in many people with autism. When I reading about mental retardation, I was struck by the overlap in certain symptoms in this and acquired brain injury, etc.
For my son, with severe disabilities including significant mental retardation, I believe it was the lack of oxygen at birth, and other birth trauma, coupled with the mercury-containing Hepatitis B shot at birth. I don’t think his system was strong enough after the birth to process the shot properly. Then he developed severe jaundice which wasn’t treated properly. Undertreated jaundice can cause mental retardation.
In other cases, heredity factors seem to be the main cause. I’ve met entire families, who, although they may not all have the diagnosis of autism. don’t “get” it socially at all.
I’m sure there are many more causes.
And yes, I think it’s important to keep looking. This could have big effects on prevention and treatment. Just wish my son was young enough to benefit from what I’m sure will eventually be uncovered — once the politics is taken out, and real science is undertaken.
Cynthia
Hi Lisa—While it is ultimately important to understand the aetiology of autism, for those of us who live our lives in “autism every day,” the more practical concerns of keeping a child peaceful and happy, learning how to read, and talking a bit more are the things I work the most for, and worry about too.
The desire to find that specific cause can lead us down a slippery slope, as I try to suggest in Autism Causes TV.
No wonder we are so far behind in finding answers for Autism, if we still have to ask this question!!!!!
I have known for years now that Autism has it roots in many causes, thimersol, autoimmune reactions to vaccines, the measels componenet in the MMR, diseases in utero, and many possible genetic links, can all lead to an outcome of Autism.
The sooner we start to focus on the cluprit(s) that may be causing the most cases of Autism the better off we all will be.