It was not until last year when I heard a student give a presentation on autism that I realized how complicated and broad the disorder was. Autism Spectrum Disorder is one of those disorders that seems to have such a variety of symptoms that it’s hard not to say that all of us have at least one or two of them. Some symptoms of autism include; difficulty with nonverbal behaviors, difficulty forming freidnships with peers, performs repetitive movements, develop an interest in objects or topic that are abnormal in intensity, detail or focus, and more. There is no real diagnostic test for autism, but rather a team of doctors who observe a person’s behaviors does the diagnosis. Famous people such as Tim Burton, Dan Aykroyd, and possibly Lewis Carrol and Mozart are said to have some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder. So sometimes autism does not show in the most severe of ways.
According to Autismspeaks.org the prevalence of autism around the world has been continuously growing and is now estimated that about 1 in 88 children are affected with the disorder. It is also the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
So how does autism occur? Well, most of the research done has shown that it is a genetic disorder. But there are some hints as to how we can help those with autistic tendencies at an early age since we are learning more and more about what effects it has on the brain. Autism is often associated with having an “unglued” brain. This saying is talking about how often those with autism are unable to form tight junctions between synapses, causes the important connections between neurons to be loose, or not connected at all. Cell adhesion is not a strong, and therefore there is less information being transferred across the brain. This usually happens in specific areas of the brain, which may cause certain symptoms such as social or behavioral problems. Also, there is evidence that those with autism have a deficiency of BDNF and altered polyunsaturated fatty acids, also known as PUFAs. BDNF is an important growth factor that helps with cell differentiation, cell growth, synaptic plasticity and cell health. PUFAs help upregulate BDNF in the brain, and when there is a decrease in PUFAs within the brain, this leads to a decrease in BDNF concentration.
Lastly, I think it is very interesting to note that often those with autism have very strong dietary needs. Often, those with autism have extreme food allergies, or are unable to eat many different foods. Children with autism are usually very picky eaters, and doctors often suggest a well-balanced and nutritional diet that has been carefully thought out in order to provide children with the right amount of nutrients while also not upsetting their stomach.
Since I learned that autism can be so easily diagnosed, and symptoms can be hardly recognizable yet still be enough for diagnosis, I have become fairly skeptical with how much it is being diagnosed. It is no surprise that there has been an increase in the prevalence of autism across the world. However, it is still important to recognize that this disorder is something we need to worry about. It is hard not to think that our high fat diet lifestyles may not be a possible cause for this disorder. And yes, it may be genetic, but there is still a lot about autism we are not sure about.
Autism in a Nutshell
