Here are some new studies that show links to autism and it’s potential causes.
1. Heavy prenatal exposure to certain pesticides increases the risk of ASD. The study found that children of women living very close to fields sprayed with organochlorines had a much higher rate of autism. Those living closest had a six times higher rate than those farther away. Environmental Health Perspectives, July 30, 2007.
2. A study indicates that children exposed to high levels of testosterone in utero have more autistic traits in childhood. The traits most recognized were decreased facial gazing and smaller vocabularies. Nature, Sept. 11, 2007.
3. Study finds 11 genes linked to autism. New research out of UC Davis shows that eleven genes with links to natural-killer (NK) cells are expressed at higher levels in the blood of autistic children. Researchers detected overexpression of the eleven genes in all of the children with full-syndrome autism. If the NK cells are dysfunctional their body may not rid itself of infections, which are thought to contribute to autism. Genomics, Vol. 91, No. 1, January 2008.
4. Oxidative stress implicated in autism. One theory in autism is that heavy metal toxicity is a causative factor. One of the sides in this issue is the body’s inability to eliminate heavy metals from their system (detoxify) in autistic individuals. This inability can lead to increased oxidative damage throughout the body including the brain. A recent study showed that 3-NT (a marker for oxidative stress) levels, form the cerebellar tissue of 9 autistic individuals, were elevated 69.8% and the increase was statistically significant. The analysis also showed higher levels of mercury and lower levels of selenium. Oxidative stress can lead to increased cell death and in autistic individuals it is well known that Purkinje cells (specific cells in the cerebellum that play a role in neuronal communication) are typically decreased. American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2008.