Possible Causes

Autism is biological in nature yet is behaviorally diagnosed "...because so far, no specific biological markers are known" (Hill, E. L., and Frith, U. Understanding autism: insights from mind and brain, The Royal Society, 2003, 358: 281-289).

Perinatal stress, neuronal disruption, immunological deficiency, viral disease, Fragile X chromosome, faulty gene, nutritional and environmental elements have all been implicated and included in extensive research about the possible causes of autism.

Brain structure abnormalities that may be involved include the following: cerebellum, cerebral cortex, limbic system, corpus callosum, basal ganglia, brain stem, other research focuses on the role of neurotransmitters including seratonin, dopamine, and epinephrine.

"Genetic factors alone are very unlikely to account for a real rise in rates that appears to have occurred so rapidly and continuously year after year. If there is a real rise that is continuing, environmental factors must be involved. Many suggestions have been made concerning possible causes, including constituents of the diet, environmental pollutants, antibiotics, allergies..." (Wing and Potter, 2002, p. 158).