Researchers Continue to Piece Together the Confounding Puzzle of Autism

This month, some autism awareness activists finally got their day in court, so to speak, when the controversial issue of vaccines and their link to the recent spike in autism diagnoses went before a federal judge as part of a U.S. court case. Although the ultimate outcome of that case is not yet clear, this development does represent the increasing focus on this complex disorder.

Autism is a developmental disability that scientists believe is the result of a neurological disorder. The symptoms of autism are typically first identified in early childhood. Although there are common behaviors that are associated with autism, patients with this disorder inhabit a broad spectrum of disabilities, ranging from highly functioning individuals whose difficulties are barely perceptible, to profoundly disabled patients who require life-long care and supervision. At the current juncture, no precise cause of these disorders has been identified, but many different theories are now being explored by scientists.

One of the most puzzling aspects of autism is the fact that diagnoses of the disorder have skyrocketed over the last several decades. Over the course of the 1990s, for example, diagnoses of autism increased nearly 200% in the United States. Today, researchers estimate that 1.5 million Americans are affected by the disorder.

Understandably, these trends have sparked a great deal of research interest. In the last several months, scientists have made a number of important discoveries that have helped to shed some light on autism spectrum disorders. This week, we?ll take a look at some of the most significant recent findings in the field.

Autism Prevalence in the U.S. Higher than Once Estimated

Although scientists and public health experts have long known that the prevalence of autism has been increasing rapidly in recent years, the results of a large-scale study released in early 2007 sent shockwaves through the research community as the full scope of the problem was finally revealed. One of the largest and most comprehensive studies of childhood autism ever conducted indicated that the true prevalence of autism in the United States was far more widespread than predicted.

According to the research, which was carried out by scientists at the Center for Disease Control, as many as one in every 150 children is now affected by some form of autism. This figure represents a significant increase from the last estimate, which put the number at approximately 5.5 cases of autism per 1,000 children.

Calling this estimate the most precise measure of autism prevalence to ever be published, researchers are now determining the best path to take to further explore this issue. However, while this research conclusively affirms the dramatic increase in autism diagnoses that has been suspected, it does not answer one of the most confounding issues about the disorder, namely, identifying the origins of the sharp spike in autism diagnoses seen in recent years.

Study on Siblings of Autistic Children Delves into Genetic Aspects of the Disorder

In recent years, many autism awareness groups have theorized that environmental causes may be to blame for the rapid increase in autism diagnoses. However, scientists have, for the most part, rejected this claim. Although the origins and causes of autism spectrum disorders remain shrouded in mystery, many researchers believe that genetic factors may be largely to blame.

This contention seems to have been bolstered by the results of a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego. The team found that as many as 10% of the younger siblings of children with autism were also diagnosed with some form of the disorder.

Furthermore, even when the younger siblings? symptoms were not severe enough to merit a formal diagnosis of autism, they tended to display unusual social behaviors that were reminiscent of their autistic siblings. Although these findings don?t conclusively prove that autism is caused by genes, they do highlight the potential significance of family ties in the disorder.

Experts Stress the Importance of Early Screening and Intervention for Autistic Children

Traditionally, diagnoses of autism have been made as children enter the preschool age group, with most occurring around the age of three. By this age, most of the tell-tale social behaviors associated with autism have become evident, and the diagnosis can be made with certainty.

However, autism researchers and advocacy groups are now encouraging the development of new strategies for early intervention that will help at-risk children get the help they need. Using these new methods, some autistic children are now receiving intensive therapy well before the age of 2.

By using a few simple guidelines, doctors and other trained helping professionals can now determine whether social development is proceeding at a normal pace. These techniques have been shown to be able to identify children at high risk for developing autism, even in infants as young as six months. Possible warning signs include: a failure to focus on sights and sounds by 2 months, a failure to initiate joyful interactions with parents by 4 months, a failure to exchange smiles and sounds with parents by 8 to 9 months, and a failure to point to objects by 12 to 16 months.

Researchers have stressed the importance of immediate therapy for infants, toddlers, and young children with autism. With early help, the impact of many of the social problems that plague autistic patients can be greatly reduced.

Though these recent research findings represent a significant step forward for autism research, much more work will be needed before this persistent medical puzzle is solved. Check back each week for more of the breaking research news that impacts your health!