Autism Understanding Furthered by International Genetic Study

Autism understanding begins when a person realizes that autism is a disorder that affects people differently. Although autism affects the normal functioning of a person's perception, attention and thoughts, autism is not characterized by one type of perception, attention and thought. Instead, it covers a broad spectrum of disorders that may be mild or severe. Due to the fact that autism is such a complex disorder, medical research is still in the process of understanding how it develops and why it affects certain individuals.
One particular medical project with the aim to find better autism understanding by identifying the gene that causes autism, is the 5 year Autism Genome Project (AGP). So far, phase I of the AGP has identified a gene and parts of a chromosome to be linked with the occurrence of autism. The findings of this particular autism study was published online in the Nature Genetics February 18, 2007 issue.
The Autism Genome Project is a global research consortium that is funded by Autism Speaks and the National Institute of Health. Autism Speaks is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to raising the awareness of autism and raising funds to help research it.
The AGP involves more than 120 scientists from 50 institutions in 19 countries around the world. The researchers who have collaborated on the project combined their autism expertise, and shared all of the data and samples they had to help identify autism-related genes.
As was mentioned, phase I of this project began 5 years ago in 2002, and it allowed the team of medical experts to gain autism understanding by identifying a single specific gene known as neurexil 1, and part of chromosome 11 which could likely be the cause of autism in children. These findings are based on the largest autism genome scan that has ever been done.
Scientists have known for many years that autism is a genetic disorder, but only until the AGP have they been able to use special "gene chip" technology to search for genetic similarities in autistics. Genetic similarities were found in practically all of the autistic individuals within each of the twelve hundred families that that were made part of the project. The scientists also checked the DNA of each family to look for copy number variations that are believed might be connected to autism and similar disorders.
What the researches discovered in their study was that one particular gene known as neurexin 1 plays a significant role with glutamate; a neurotransmitter that has been formerly linked to autism. Researchers also uncovered an area of chromosome 11 that is suspected to contain a gene that may be involved in the occurrence of autism. However, this particular gene in chromosome 11 has yet to be identified which is required for further autism understanding.
Based on previous research, and the research that has been uncovered by the study so far, scientists speculate that there may be as many as 6 main genes and 30 additional genes linked to autism. However, these numbers are only theories, as scientists point out that the actual number of genes could exceed their theory. Nevertheless, despite the number of genes that may be involved, researchers admit that it is still far too early to dictate how these genes may be responsible for autism.
Currently, phase II of the Autism Genome Project has been announced. The promising discoveries found in phase I makes scientists hopeful that discovering the genes that cause autism will provide new steps toward autism understanding. With greater understanding, more effective methods of diagnosis, preventing and treating the disorder can be taken.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter and discover more about understanding autism. On the site you'll find more information about high functioning autism and autism research.

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Possible Non Genetic Causes of Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that typically manifests in the first 3 years of a child's life. Simply put - and Autism is anything but simple - Autism impedes the brain's normal development of social and communication abilities. Children with autism display a myriad of symptoms / behaviors at varying degrees which include, but are not limited to:

• Heightened sensitivity in some or all of their senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and/or taste)
• Exhibit repetitive behaviors or rituals and show distress when routines are interrupted
• Struggles with language and may communicate through gestures rather than words
• Show increases or unusual attachment to objects
• Difficulty communicating and being "social"
• Does not respond to "normal" social queues such as smiling and eye contact
• Struggles with empathy and concepts of the "self" versus "others"
• Often displays a very specific or narrow span of interest

Despite rigorous scientific analysis, there is still quite a bit of mystery shrouding autism. Genetics appear to be an underlying factor is the development of autism. Fraternal twins, for example, are less likely than identical twins to share the diagnosis suggesting a definite link to the child's chromosomes. Also, families with a history of nervous system or neurological issues have a higher predisposition for autism. But science has shown that autism is likely the result of several variables - not genetics alone. Studies have suggested a strong correlation with external influences, specifically chemical exposure and sensitivity, diet, digestive tract changes, and an inability of the child's body to properly utilize necessary vitamins and/or minerals.
Chemical Exposure & Chemical Sensitivity
It is believed that chemical exposure - either to the woman during pregnancy or the child's direct exposure - may be a contributing factor to the development of autism. Mercury and environmental chemicals that cause oxidative stress have both been areas of particular concern. Even after autism is diagnosed, these chemicals may increase the severity of symptoms. For these reasons, it is advisable for child-minded families to reduce the amounts of chemical exposure a child bearing adult and the subsequent offspring are exposed to in the home. You can do this by using non-toxic cleaners designed for chemical sensitivities. For more information on specific ingredients to avoid, check out our past post on chemical sensitivities in the home. Install water purifiers and drinking faucets and consider treating water with ion water purification. Lastly, choose toiletries that are salicylate (SLS) free, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, sunscreen and salicylate free dental care.
Dietary Influences
Food additives and pesticides are another possible autism trigger. According to a 2005 Barlow studies, these toxic elements "act as an additional insult to the system and prevent the normal recovery of [antioxidant] defenses." This in turn can lead to "neurodegeneration" especially with concurrent exposures. A diet rich in these preservatives and pesticides can not only trigger autism, they have the potential to aggravate and intensify symptoms. For this reason, reducing or eliminating foods that use pesticides or are rich in preservatives is important.
Some things to keep an eye out for include:

• Processed foods - the more processed, the more likely it will contain preservatives.
• Sodium nitrate - often found in meats such as bacon, lunch meats, smoked fish and corned beef.
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - often associated with Asian food, but can also be used in soups, salads dressing, chips and frozen meals.
• Salicylates - can be naturally occurring in whole foods including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, but can also found in sweets, condiments, oils, grains, meat, dairy, soy, processed foods, and even beverages.
• Potassium Bromate - increasingly uncommon but still legal in the US. Used to increase volume in some bread products.
• General "Food Coloring" - found in candy, fruit cocktail, beverages and baked treats.

Digestive Tract Issues
An Australian study discovered a significant difference in how autistic children digestive tracts metabolize amino acids and also identified notable differences in the levels of healthy intestinal bacteria in the large intestine. These digestive limitations likely contribute an inability to utilize important vitamins and minerals. If your child is autistic, ask your physician to use appropriate amino acid urine and fecal tests to help identify any issues in your child's digestive tract. Promote digestive enzyme health with a natural probiotic cleanse, which in turn will help your child absorb necessary nutrients and stave off toxins.

About the Author: Eric Lancaster is the Executive Vice President at Teraganix, formerly EM America. Teraganix is the exclusive US distributor for Dr. Higa's original EM Technology including EM-1 and Bokashi products. EM-1® has a myriad of practical uses, from organic vegetable garden fertilizer to micronutrient fertilizer and even a kitchen compost accelerant.

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