Causes of autism (autism) and factors that increase the risk

Autism is a developmental disorder that makes it difficult for a person to interact, communicate and behave as usual. Symptoms of autism are generally diagnosed for the first time in the first year of childhood, or perhaps earlier in the baby's age. So, what causes children with autism? Come on, find out the causes of autism in the following review.

Causes of autism in children

The World Health Organization (WHO) says, one in 160 children in the world has autism or Autism Spectrus Disorder (ASD).

Now, the definition of autism has been expanded to include autism spectrum disorders (ASD) which includes several other brain development disorders, such as Asperger's syndrome.

Launching the National Institute of Health, evidence so far has found that the results of brain imaging tests of children with autism are slightly different from other children who do not have the disorder.

Image of brain imaging of children with autism (the old term for people with autism, - red) shows differences in several areas of the brain.

This condition may occur during early development in the womb.

Some experts conclude that these disorders can occur due to gene defects (mutations).

This ultimately affects brain development as well as how brain cells relate to one another.

Causative factors that increase the risk of autism in children

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention states that until now there is no definite cause for children experiencing autism or autism.

Beyond that, researchers argue that there are several other factors that increase the likelihood of a child experiencing autism.

Here are some risk factors that contribute to autism or autism, namely:

1. Hereditary or genetic factors

Autism tends to run in families and may be something that is passed on from parent to child.

For example, if one parent or family experiences it, it could be the cause of autism that is passed on to the child.

If a child is diagnosed with autism, his younger sibling also has a greater chance of developing autism. So, there is a possibility that twins will both have autism.

Experts believe that genes inherited from parents are one of the main factors that make a person more at risk for this disorder.

However, there are several genes in the body that are believed to cause autism.

Therefore, scientists are still working hard to find out exactly what genes cause autism in children.

In some cases, autism can be related to genetic disorders such as fragile X syndrome or tuberous sclerosis.

Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that can cause developmental problems, especially cognitive impairments.

Children who inherit this gene generally experience delayed speech development, anxiety, hyperactive and impulsive behavior.

2. Environmental factors

Environmental factors have been known to contribute to the development of autism.

For example, a factor that causes autism in children is that drugs consumed during pregnancy could be one of the triggers.

Drugs that are said to be the cause of autism (autism), namely the drugs thalidomide and valproic acid.

This medication is commonly used to prevent swelling and inflammation due to Hanses disease and to prevent the development of certain types of cancer.

Meanwhile, valproic acid, also known as valproic acid, is a drug used to treat seizures, mental disorders, and migraines.

Drugs that work by balancing natural substances in the brain may interfere with fetal brain development.

As a way to reduce the risk of autism, pregnant women must be careful. Always consult a doctor before using certain drugs.

Apart from drug use, the Mayo Clinic states that air pollutants can also trigger autism.

Most likely this includes chemicals in the air that are inhaled during pregnancy.

3. Certain diseases or health conditions

According to the observations of experts, certain health conditions can also be related to the causes of autism. The conditions referred to include:

Down syndrome

A genetic disorder that causes developmental delays, learning disabilities and abnormal physical features.

Children who have this condition usually have a snub nose, small mouth, or short hands.

Muscular dystrophy

A group of genetic conditions that cause progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass.

In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes interfere with protein production, causing problems in healthy muscles.

Cerebral palsy

A chronic disorder of the brain and nervous system, causing movement and coordination problems.

Children born with this condition generally have stiff bodies, have difficulty chewing, have difficulty standing and sitting upright.

This condition that afflicts newborn babies is indeed difficult to prevent. However, you should not be discouraged by this.

As long as you adopt a healthy lifestyle, have adequate nutrition, do not smoke and drink alcohol during pregnancy, the risk of health problems in your baby can decrease.

Most importantly, you should always check your health and your fetus to the doctor regularly.

4. The baby was born prematurely

Although the cause of autism in children is not certain, babies born prematurely are very susceptible to this disorder.

Autism is most likely to occur in babies born before 26 weeks of gestation.

There are many conditions associated with preterm birth. This can occur due to infection or complications that occur to the mother during pregnancy.

5. Babies are born from pregnancy at old age

Studies report that the age of pregnant women has an increased risk of autism.

Mothers who are pregnant over the age of 40 have a 51% risk of having a child with autism - 2 times greater than women who are pregnant at around 25 years of age.

It is likely that the age of the mother affects the inherited genes and brain development of the baby during pregnancy.

If you experience pregnancy in old age, always consult a doctor to monitor the development and health of the fetus.

6. Lack and excess of folic acid intake

Folic acid is one of the nutrients pregnant women need for fetal development and brain development.

It's best to make sure that you eat it in sufficient doses. This is because under or over dosage can be a factor causing autism in children.

Research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that excess folate levels (4 times the recommended amount), will double the risk of a child developing ASD.

However, lack of folate intake in early pregnancy can also increase the risk of ASD in children.

The causes of autism are apparently just a myth

Increasing knowledge about autism can help parents in caring for and caring for their little one with this disorder.

That way, the myths that are circulating you will not swallow them, which can end up being bad for their health.

The following are some assumptions about the causes of autism in children that are not proven true:

Immunizations for the causes of autism

There is no link between vaccination (immunization) and autism. Especially the MMR vaccine which is used to prevent mumps, measles, and rubella.

Carrying out immunization is a very important and effective way to protect children from various life-threatening diseases.

This is because babies and toddlers have immature immune systems so they are easily infected with viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Wrong parenting causes children with autism

Rumors have circulated that wrong parenting is the cause of autism in children. However, researchers have proven that this is not true.

As explained above, it is likely that this abnormality occurs due to a disruption in the child's brain development.

Poor parenting does not lead to autism, but it can cause anxiety, frustration, low self-esteem, or form a bad personality in children.

Things parents can do

If you suspect your child has autism, you should immediately see a doctor.

Especially if your child shows symptoms of autism, such as difficulty communicating, preferring to be alone, and engaging in repetitive behaviors.

In addition, children with this condition tend to like the same solid routine. When her routine changes, she will feel angry and disappointed.

They are also attracted to things that are out of the ordinary, such as liking pedals and bicycle wheels, keys, or light switches.

Doctors can review this information further to determine the cause of autism in children and find out the appropriate treatment.

Getting treatment faster helps reduce the severity of symptoms, as well as improve the child's quality of life.

The cause of autistic children can be detected too late

Autism cannot appear on its own or be acquired when a person is past their growing period.

If someone suddenly experiences communication problems and social behavior disorders during late adolescence or adulthood, then this is not autism.

However, the symptoms and causes of autism in children can be detected too late.

This is because the symptoms of autism basically appear during the child's development. However, it can be disguised because it doesn't appear completely.

Then, autism in adolescents can be disguised because the behavior and emotional patterns typical of adolescents tend to fluctuate due to puberty.

The following are signs and symptoms of austism that appear in adults, such as:

• Have a few friends
• Limitations in language
• Interruption of interest and attention
• Difficulty empathizing and having trouble processing information
• Behavior patterns are repetitive and depend on routine

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