Autism
spectrum disorder is often considered one of the most mysterious conditions an
individual can be diagnosed with because there isn't a cure nor is there
concrete evidence that identifies the reason for onset. Currently, ASD affects an
estimated 1 in 45 children aged 3 to 17 according to the National Health Statistics
Report and the increase in prevalence is alarming. The disorder can vary in
severity from one individual to the next but majority of those with ASD have
some core symptoms. Those core symptoms fall in the areas of social interaction
difficulties, verbal and nonverbal communication challenges, limited interest
in activities or play as well as delays in developing/learning new skills.
With that in
mind, the Albert
and Claire Dwoskin Family Foundation has made it their mission to uncover
the unknown mysteries regarding chronic conditions like autism through
philanthropic efforts and scientific research to find the cause of onset. The
foundation believes the discovery of the cause will open up the doors to
treatment, prevention and cure. However, a challenge often arises regarding the
onset of autism: is it due to genetics, the environment or a combination of
both?
Looking back
at most research associated with the onset of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative
disorders like autism, historical data has typically focused on the presumption
of genetic causes with less emphasis on environmental factors. However, the
presumption of heritability/genetic factors cannot sufficiently explain each
reported case of autism nor can it explain the reason of the significant rise in
the disorders' prevalence. But, according to a recent publication,
there is now sufficient evidence from both human and animal studies that
indicate cumulative exposure from environmental factors make it less benign as
previously assumed.
The evidence
in the publication displays the onset of autism may be attributed to early-life
immune insults induced by environmental xenobiotics. A very common xenobiotic that
is immuno-stimulation is aluminum, which contains neurotoxic properties. This
xenobiotic is routinely exposed to infants under the age of 2 in the form of an
aluminum adjuvant formulated in a vaccine. The aluminum adjuvant serves to
excite the immune system but given its neurotoxic properties, it has the potential
of inducing an adverse numerological and immunological effect, which indicates
important clues to its possible role in autism.
Due to the
fact that infants are at the greatest risk of experiencing an adverse reaction
following the administration of an aluminum adjuvant based vaccine, the
plausibility of the immune system being overstimulation could play a major role
in the onset of neurobehavioral disorders – making the hypothesis is very conceivable.
