New Study Implicates Environmental Factors in Autism.

[elleng]

A new study of twins suggests that environmental factors, including conditions in the womb, may be at least as important as genes in causing autism.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/health/research/05autism.html?_r=1&hp

[drm604]

1. Interesting and important news. n/t

[postulater]

2. If so, it might be easier to prevent.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Interesting

It's already known that severe prenatal/ perinatal problems, such as low birthweight and severe prematurity can increase the risk of autism. Prenatal and perinatal factors are worthy of much more investigation IMO.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. This has been known for some time. n/t

[mzmolly]

6. And denied for some time

it seems. ;)


:hi:

[LeftishBrit]

7. No it hasn't

No one to my knowledge has denied the possible importance of prenatal/ perinatal environment, and in fact it's known that, though genetics are very important in autism, prematurity and some maternal infections play a role. Other prenatal factors may well do so too, as this article suggests.

'Environment plays a role in autism' is NOT the same thing as 'Vaccinations play a role in autism'. Environment plays a big role in breaking your leg; that doesn't mean that vaccinations cause you to break your leg.

In fact, anyone who looks at my posts on the health forum will see that one of my complaints is that the obsession with the theory that vaccinations cause autism has diverted attention from research into prenatal environmental factors.

[Odin2005]

8. And don't forget that autistic people are sensitive to environmental contaminants.

So it's likely just making the behavior of autistic kids worse. If that bad behavior is what leads to diagnosis then the ignorant parents think the pollution "caused" their kid's autism.

[HuckleB]

10. +1,000,000,000,000 ...

[mzmolly]

11. The study notes "environmental factors INCLUDING conditions in the womb,"

not limited to conditions in the womb, as you suggest.

'Environment plays a role in autism' is NOT the same thing as 'Vaccinations play a role in autism'. Environment plays a big role in breaking your leg; that doesn't mean that vaccinations cause you to break your leg.

People can break legs in car accidents as well. This does not mean that car accidents are THE cause of bone fractures. They're ONE of the potential environmental contributors. Vaccinations are part of our environment. They're a part of our environment that includes a response to infection and known neuro-toxins. Both are known to play a role in developing the symptoms of autism. Deny these are legitimate concerns/contributing factors, if you wish.

In fact, anyone who looks at my posts on the health forum will see that one of my complaints is that the obsession with the theory that vaccinations cause autism has diverted attention from research into prenatal environmental factors.

Pregnant women are subjected vaccines too. The suggestion that vaccines can't possibly play a role in the development of autism, is absurd. Suggesting that we look at environmental factors, including vaccination hasn't diverted attention from anything other than the desire to feign "vaccines have never, ever harmed a single child, ever."

Further, what HAS diverted attention from legitimate research focusing on environmental contributions, is the false notion that autism is purely genetic. That assertion has been made here, time and time again.

[mzmolly]

5. You mean the notion that it's "purely genetic" is bogus?

Who knew?! :sarcasm:

[Odin2005]

9. See post 8

[HuckleB]

12. Is Autism, at Least in Part, a Disorder of Fetal Programming?

http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/archgenpsychiatry.2011.99

This helps to put this single study into context, at least a bit.

So does this study, that, for some reason, was not cited by the new study.

Characteristics and concordance of autism spectrum disorders among 277 twin pairs.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19805709

Meanwhile, the press headlines are doing their best to make sure people are confused by this single study. Ugh.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=hts&oq=&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADSA_enUS377US388&q=Characteristics+and+concordance+of+autism+spectrum+disorders+among+277+twin+pairs.#q=autism+twins+study&hl=en&rlz=1T4ADSA_enUS377US388&prmd=ivnsu&source=univ&tbm=nws&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=UdEUTvnjFYjUiALw_O3XDQ&ved=0CFAQqAI&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=4c1461b1cf52ab23&biw=996&bih=592

[mzmolly]

13. Numerous studies suggest an environmental role in autism.

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=autism+environment&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=autism+environmental+factors&btnG=Search&as_sdt=0%2C24&as_ylo=&as_vis=1

Of particular interest...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11895365

Genetic and immunologic considerations in autism.
Korvatska E, Van de Water J, Anders TF, Gershwin ME.
Source

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Erratum in

Neurobiol Dis 2002 Jun;10(1):69.

Abstract

According to recent epidemiological surveys, autistic spectrum disorders have become recognized as common childhood psychopathologies. These life-lasting conditions demonstrate a strong genetic determinant consistent with a polygenic mode of inheritance for which several autism susceptibility regions have been identified. Parallel evidence of immune abnormalities in autistic patients argues for an implication of the immune system in pathogenesis. This review summarizes advances in the molecular genetics of autism, as well as recently emerging concerns addressing the disease incidence and triggering factors. The neurochemical and immunologic findings are analyzed in the context of a neuroimmune hypothesis for autism. Studies of disorders with established neuroimmune nature indicate multiple pathways of the pathogenesis; herein, we discuss evidence of similar phenomena in autism.

...

Epidemiology. 2010 Nov;21(6):805-8.

Parental autoimmune diseases associated with autism spectrum disorders in offspring.
Keil A, Daniels JL, Forssen U, Hultman C, Cnattingius S, Söderberg KC, Feychting M, Sparen P.
Source

Department of aEpidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA. [e-mail]
Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Autism spectrum disorders are often idiopathic. Studies have suggested associations between immune response and these disorders. We explored associations between parental autoimmune disorders and children's diagnosis of autism by linking Swedish registries.

METHODS:
Data for each participant were linked across 3 Swedish registries. The study includes 1227 cases and 25 matched controls for each case (30,693 controls with parental linkage). Parental diagnoses comprised 19 autoimmune disorders. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) using multivariable conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS:
Parental autoimmune disorder was weakly associated with autism spectrum disorders in offspring (maternal OR = 1.6 <95% confidence interval = 1.1-2.2>; paternal OR = 1.4 <1.0-2.0>). Several maternal autoimmune diseases were correlated with autism. For both parents, rheumatic fever was associated with autism spectrum disorders.

CONCLUSIONS:
These data support previously reported associations between parental autoimmune disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Parental autoimmune disorders may represent a critical pathway that warrants more detailed investigation.

And, from the EPA

http://www.epa.gov/ncer/childrenscenters/autism.html

Overview

The EPA/NIEHS Centers for Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research (Children’s Centers) are studying how exposure to chemicals in the environment such as lead, mercury and pesticides could lead to neurodevelopmental disorders in children. These disorders include autism, neurodevelopmental delay, lowered IQ and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Children’s Center Research on Autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder generally defined by deficiencies of social reciprocity and communication skills, lack of eye contact, limited capacity for language and repetitive (stereotypic) patterns of behavior. The symptoms generally manifest themselves in early childhood. The term autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is often used to describe the varying degrees of symptoms. The majority of autism cases seem likely to arise from a multiplicity of genetic and environmental factors, including susceptibility genes.

Two of the Children’s Centers, the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), are investigating how environmental factors may affect the development of autism. Research includes epidemiologic studies relating autism to environmental exposures and physiologic factors, mechanistic studies, exposure assessment and intervention projects.

Children’s Center Research on Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals in the environment, such as lead, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), have been shown to have neurotoxic effects. Exposure to neurotoxicants during critical moments of fetal and childhood development can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. Individuals may also carry genes which can increase their susceptibility to the effects of toxic compounds such as pesticides.

Research from the Children’s Centers, including Cincinnati, Columbia, Harvard, Mount Sinai, the University of Illinois and the University of Washington has shown adverse effects on neurodevelopment from chemicals including environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), lead, mercury, a combination of manganese and arsenic, pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

[SheilaT]

14. I know that my son with Asperger's

was different from the very day he was born.

I've also read accounts of mothers of severely autistic children who say things like, Even before he was born he was different.