What Causes Autism?

There is one thing we know for sure: Autism is not a fault of a parent. While there still exist many unanswered questions about autism, and a tidal wave of research both completed and yet to be performed, there are certainly aspects we can speak to with some level of authority now.

Autism presents itself across a broad spectrum that manifests for each child in infinitely unique ways. Equally varied is the combination of factors that contribute to this condition, including external and internal environmental factors, timing of exposure to environmental factors, and genetic susceptibility.

What Causes Autism?

Before we can determine what causes autism, we need to develop a definition of what the problem is. The current belief states that autism is a genetically determined neurodevelopmental disorder.

Research provides an alternate perspective, suggesting that autism is epigenetic in origin and is a complex whole-body, multi-system metabolic disorder. Relying on this perspective, we can then determine what forms of genetic susceptibility may play a role and what environmental stressors may be contributing.

Is Autism Triggered by Something?

Environmental stressors are thought to act as triggers. However, environmental triggers alone cannot be blamed, nor can any single environmental stressor be identified as the primary cause for all individuals. The population of children on the autism spectrum is too heterogeneous (diverse).

There must be some form of genetic, systemic, and metabolic vulnerability that environmental stressors activate in order for autism to develop. Two other important factors that must be considered are the timing and synergy of these stressors.

Are Genetics Involved?

For most diseases to occur, there has to be some type of genetic vulnerability. However, autism is not a genetic disorder. One cannot define the increase in numbers as an epidemic and then attribute it solely to genetics. In the language of science, you cannot have a genetic epidemic. On the other hand, many consider the prevalence of autism to have reached epidemic proportions.

Through the work of Jill James and others, we have learned that autism is an epigenetic phenomenon. In simple terms, it is an event that emerges after conception and is related to genetic expression and environmental stress rather than any single gene.

Again, given the heterogeneity of the disorder and the emerging evidence of subtypes, it would be inaccurate to blame any single cause.

Can You Take Steps Before and After Pregnancy That May Reduce the Risk?

Certainly. If we embrace the research and adopt the perspective that autism is an epigenetic phenomenon emerging from environmental stressors acting upon genetic susceptibility, then we can begin to identify those at greatest risk.

We can employ more detailed screening of parents and counsel them to reduce their exposure to environmental triggers during the pre-, peri-, and post-natal periods. We can also provide mothers with guidelines on how to support their metabolism and bypass genetic susceptibility.

Vaccines and Autism

There is plenty of literature that both supports and refutes a connection between vaccines and autism. This debate is influenced by the medical industry, business interests, politics, and special interest groups.

From my perspective, vaccines are part of the environmental stressors—not only as individual stressors but also in the context of their schedule, timing, and the adjuvants used as preservatives in their production. Like any other medical intervention, vaccines should be tailored to address the unique needs of each individual and not administered in a uniform way that overlooks biochemical individuality.

Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills impact a woman’s nutritional status by affecting levels of certain B vitamins, vitamin C, and copper. Prior to conceiving, these changes should be adequately assessed and addressed.

Diet and Pregnancy

A healthy diet before, during, and after pregnancy is very important for both mother and child. It is wise for a woman planning a pregnancy to clean up her diet. There are many changes she can make to reduce the burden of environmental stressors.

If a woman eats simple, natural whole foods as nature provides, choosing organic and non-GMO options whenever possible, she and her developing child are less likely to be exposed to a wide range of teratogenic toxins.

Ken Cook at the Environmental Working Group has provided important information regarding toxins found in the cord blood of newborns. This information is significant and should not be ignored.

As Hippocrates, the father of medicine, famously stated:

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”