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E-mail StoryNo easy answers in autism
Theories abound, but no known cause or cure for baffling disorder
| Saturday, Mar 10 2007 8:10 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Mar 16 2007 5:37 PM
It seems as if almost everyone has a theory about what causes autism spectrum disorders and why more children are being diagnosed with them now.
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But no one knows for sure. And there's no known cure. Experts disagree on many of the issues.
"Unfortunately there are a lot of outfits that will prey upon people's desperation," said Sue Backer, parent of a 4-year-old with an autism spectrum disorder. "You really need to do research before you buy snake oil."
Children with autism spectrum disorders -- a range of developmental disorders that share some similar characteristics -- generally have problems communicating and understanding social situations. Oftentimes, their brains have problems balancing their senses, so certain sounds, sights, smells or touches are overwhelming.
Researchers across the country have been working for years to try to understand it. Many believe some children are genetically predisposed to autism. Others believe something in the environment triggers it. Still others believe it's a combination.
The UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute in cooperation with the National Institute of Mental Health launched the Autism Phenome Project last year in hopes of finding out more. The institute is studying children, their families and environments in hopes of finding patterns that might help explain autism and identify different types of the disorder.
Over the years, several causes have been discussed and then dismissed. In the1970s, doctors considered what would be called autism today a form of childhood schizophrenia. In the past, some experts believed emotionally distant mothers caused autism in children. That idea has been discredited.
"I think pretty much everyone in the community would agree it's a biological disorder," said Ann Mastergeorge, a developmental and educational psychologist at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute. "At least structurally, we know the brains of children with autism look very, very different."
Many have also pointed fingers at vaccines. That's largely because many parents say their children started displaying autistic behaviors around the time they were immunized.
The M.I.N.D. Institute published a position paper in 2004 saying there's no evidence the measles, mumps and Rubella vaccine causes autism. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies also released a report in 2004 saying there's no evidence vaccines cause autism.
"Vaccinations in healthy children are safe and very important in preventing the re-emergence of epidemics of infectious diseases that have killed millions of people in the past," according to the M.I.N.D. Institute position paper. "Does this mean that we can say without a doubt that vaccines do not cause autism in some children? The answer to this question is 'no.'"
At the same time, most vaccines no longer contain the mercury-based preservative thimerosal. The preservative was removed from many vaccines or left only in trace amounts after outcry from parents.
Still, other people believe autism spectrum disorders are caused partly by heavy metals in the body. Others believe digestive problems have something do with it. Many autistic children have problems digesting certain foods. Some parents put their autistic children on gluten-free diets.
Many parents say it helps. Some say it doesn't. As with many so-called autism treatments, what works for one child might not work for another.
Most experts agree early education is the best bet, but for the most part, it's all still a mystery.
"People think there's an easy answer out there," said Kern High School District Special Education Director Steve Moyer. "But there isn't."