Autism is much more prevalent than
previously believed
Current estimates of the prevalence
of autism are 16 per 10 000 births, but this estimated prevalence increases to
63 per 10 000 when all forms of autism spectrum disorders are included. It is
much higher than previously reported, Peter Szatmari, professor at the Department
of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON,
Canada, writes in an editorial of today´s British
Medical Journal.
"Autism is a developmental disability with
onset in infancy. Its clinical presentation is characterized by impairments in
reciprocal social interaction and in communication with others, and by a preference
for repetitive, stereotyped behaviors", Dr Szatmari writes.
Our
understanding of the clinical picture of autism has changed dramatically over
the past decade thanks to a much greater appreciation of the possible range of
behaviours seen at different ages and degrees of functioning. Another key change
has been the appreciation that several closely related "disorders" exist
that share these same essential features but differ on specific symptoms, age
of onset, or natural history. These disorders, which include Asperger syndrome,
atypical autism, and disintegrative disorder are often conceptualized as lying
on a spectrum with autism (hence the popularity of the term "autism spectrum
disorders").
The
genetic origin of autistic spectrum disorder does not exclude an environmental
risk factor as well; as long as it is understood that "environmental"
in this context can include any event after fertilization. Environmental factors
include the nutrition via the umbilical cord from mother to fetus as well as smoking
of the mother during pregnancy. Nicotine and other chemicals in the tobacco smoke
have been shown to increase the risk of autism. Also the role of organic mercury,
thiomersal, present in the vaccines, is a topic of dispute.
As the results
of traditional treatment are poor, all complementary, harmless treatments should
be accepted and encouraged, for example supplementing the mother during pregnancy
with EPA and other essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Also the autistic
child probably benefits from supplementation with brain nutrition, i.e., EPA &
DHA Omega 3 fatty acids, GLA Omega 6 essential fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, and
a physiological dipeptide called carnosine.
(News
dated 25.Jan.03)
Related research:
Hultman
CM, Sparen P, Cnattingius S. Perinatal risk factors for infantile autism. Epidemiology.
2002 Jul;13(4):417-23. [PubMed]
Bernard S, Enayati A, Redwood
L, Roger H, Binstock T. Autism: a novel form of mercury poisoning. Med Hypotheses.
2001 Apr;56(4):462-71. Review. [PubMed]
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The
genetic origin of autistic spectrum disorder does not exclude an environmental
risk factor as well; as long as it is understood that "environmental"
in this context can include any event after fertilization. Environmental factors
include the nutrition via the umbilical cord from mother to fetus as well as smoking
of the mother during pregnancy. Nicotine and other chemicals in the tobacco smoke
have been shown to increase the risk of autism. Also the role of organic mercury,
thiomersal, present in the vaccines, is a topic of dispute. 
