Autism is defined as a developmental brain disorder in which the affected individual typically has problems with social interactions and may tend to exhibit a heightened focus on narrow topics and repetitive procedures. The prevalence of autism has risen from 1 in 5000 in 1975 to 1 in 110 in 2009, which, needless to say, has been a cause for a lot of concern. There could be a few societal factors that contribute to this alarming statistic, but also some biological and neurochemical factors that contribute to the increased prevalence.
Currently, there is not a clear-cut biological test for autism, which means diagnosis is made based on general behavior and response to certain stimuli, both social and physiological. Because of the current subjective nature in recognizing autism, diagnostic criteria are subject to change and have done so as to expand the definition of autism. In fact, autism diagnosis and classification has progressed from that of a single disorder to a spectrum of disorders with similar symptoms, with the identification of certain symptomatic dissociations to describe the specific type of disorder within the spectrum. This increasing number of diagnostic criteria and inclusion of different disorders in the spectrum has also led to a movement towards increased education among parents and earlier diagnosis, both of which have case-dependent benefits and/or detriments. Increasing education helps parents look for potential signs of autism, but it can also lead them to misinterpret certain behaviors as dysfunctional. The push for earlier diagnosis can facilitate potentially effective treatment at a younger age, but also could lead to false diagnosis based on variation in development. The expanding spectrum, increased education for parents and physicians, and earlier identification has certainly contributed to increased diagnosis, but it is doubtful that 100% of the increasing prevalence is due to societal views.
In class, we looked at some of the neurological factors that can lead to the onset or aggravation of autism. One phenomenon worth noting is the dysfunction of adhesion molecules between cells in the brain and concomitant abnormality in the development of new connections between brain cells. Some intrauterine inflammation has been correlated with the onset of autism. Another interesting finding in autism research is the involvement of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; such as those found in fish oil, olive oil, and others) in synaptic formation during central nervous system development and maintenance after birth as well as the prevention of central inflammation. It has been found that a diet rich in the necessary PUFAs that also avoids, trans-fats, unnecessary sugar, products treated with pesticides, and allergenic foods can reduce some gastric sensitivity while also improving the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of autism, especially when properly supplementing this diet with probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. Treatment of autism is typically multifaceted, involving aforementioned diet changes, parental training, and cognitive-behavioral therapy to address social and mental patterns. Last, we discussed a drug called Suramin, which has been researched as a potential cure for autism. Suramin research is based on the hypothesis of mitochondrial dysfunction being the root of autism. As cells are damaged due to this abnormality, a “danger response” is elicited, thus increasing the body’s defense against chemical stressors. Suramin acts to prevent some of these hyperactive responses by the body and has been shown to correct some of the behavioral hallmarks and multisystem comorbidities seen in autism.
Because of a lack of biological diagnostic mechanism, autism can be difficult to identify. Despite this, treatments can be very effective if initiated early enough and continued throughout life. More research is currently being done on the “cure” and hopefully positive results will be continually seen so as to assist both current and future patients and parents. More research also should be done on prevention so as to combat this issue on both sides of the spectrum, so to speak.
Could a Cure Stop the Expansion of this Umbrella?
