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Overview

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met.

Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by rare mutations, or by rare combinations of common genetic variants. In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes, such as heavy metals,pesticides or childhood vaccines; the vaccine hypotheses are biologically implausible and lack convincing scientific evidence. The prevalence of autism is about 1–2 per 1,000 people; the prevalence of ASD is about 6 per 1,000, with about four times as many males as females. The number of people diagnosed with autism has increased dramatically since the 1980s, partly due to changes in diagnostic practice; the question of whether actual prevalence has increased is unresolved.

Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. The signs usually develop gradually, but some autistic children first develop more normally and then regress. Although early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help autistic children gain self-care, social, and communication skills, there is no known cure. Not many children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, though some become successful. An autistic culturehas developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder

Headlines Around the Web

Autism Doctors Move Step Closer to Overhauling Diagnosis Rules

Jan 20 - Business Week

Scene Last Night: Adam Sandler Menorah, Jim Simons, Seth Meyers

Dec 06 - Business Week

British teen bailed over hacking claims

Jun 27 - France24

British hacker refused bail, diagnosed with autism

Jun 25 - France24

Spontaneous gene mutations cause autism: studies

Jun 08 - France24

Autism awareness scant as crisis mounts: hearing

May 31 - France24

Fund manager joins fight against autism

Apr 26, 2011 - CNN Money

Study Tying Vaccine to Autism Was ‘Fraud’

Jan 06, 2011 - Business Week

Autism-MMR vaccine study was an 'elaborate fraud'

Jan 06, 2011 - France24

Autism-vaccine study was a 'fraud', journal says

Jan 06, 2011 - France24

Jaundice newborns prone to develop autism: study

Oct 11, 2010 - France24

Toddlers immune to 'contagious' yawning: study

Sep 15, 2010 - France24

Scientists find misfolded neural protein linked to autism

Sep 11, 2010 - Business Standard

British scientists develop brain scan to detect autism

Aug 11, 2010 - France24

Articles About Autism

Excess Of TV Viewing Affects Children’s Health, Says Study

By IBTimes UK

Study finds children between 12 and 15 years on an average spend more than six hours a day slumped in front of screens leading to health problems. (1:00 pm)

Oxytocin Improves Brain Function in Children with Autism

By Health Canal

Preliminary results from an ongoing, large-scale study by Yale School of Medicine researchers shows that oxytocin — a naturally occurring substance produced in the brain and throughout the body— increased brain function in regions that are known to ... (May 21)

DSM-5: Diagnosis Manual "Needs Overhaul," Psychiatrists Say

By Reuters

Many psychiatrists believe a new edition of a manual designed to help diagnose mental illness should be shelved for at least a year for further revisions, despite some modifications which eliminated two controversial diagnoses. (May 11)

Four Different Approaches for Preventing and Healing Vaccine Injuries

By Natural News

Someone commented on a recent Natural News vaccine article something to this effect: "Why spend time confirming what we know; we need solutions." (May 09)

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