Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
Autism is a disorder that affects how a person communicates and interacts with others. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can range from mild to severe. Researchers believe that genetics, environment, and other factors may all play a role in the development of this condition.
The exact cause of ASD is unknown, but certain risk factors have been found to increase your chances of developing autism. Let’s take a look at what some of them are:
What Is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder. It impairs your brain’s normal development, especially in the social and communication part. It also causes restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors. According to WHO, one in 100 children suffers from autism worldwide.
People with autism may be unable to communicate their feelings or needs effectively or struggle to make friends with other children. Many people with autism have obsessive interests in specific topics, such as trains or dinosaurs, which are called “restricted interests.” Some people with autism spend much time engaging in these special interests instead of interacting with others.
Some common signs of autism include:
- Problems understanding how other people feel about things
- Problems taking turns talking during conversations
- Difficulty making eye contact when speaking to someone
Risks Factors of Autism
There are many things that make you or your child vulnerable to autism. Knowing about these factors can help with quick diagnosis and better care. Here are some risk factors:
Your Sex
In general, boys are more likely to have autism than girls. Boys are diagnosed with autism at a rate of 4:1 compared to girls. There are several reasons for this disparity. For starters, it seems that males tend to have a greater genetic risk for developing autism compared to females.
In addition, some experts theorize that differences in brain anatomy may make it more difficult for females than males to develop certain behaviors associated with ASD.
Prenatal Exposure to Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and many other over-the-counter pain relievers. While it can effectively reduce fever and alleviate aches and pains, it’s not without risks. Acetaminophen can increase the risks of autism if mothers of prenatal consume the medication during pregnancy.
Studies show that consuming acetaminophen increases the risks of autism and ADHD. After this, many women filed a lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson, the manufacturer of Tylenol. If you consumed Tylenol during pregnancy and your child has a higher risk of autism, you can file a lawsuit and claim compensation.
You must seek help from a professional lawyer to file a Tylenol autism lawsuit. The attorney will have the right expertise and would be in the best position to help you. Moreover, you will also get professional support throughout the lawsuit until you get your settlement amount.
Genetics
Genetic factors are also important. Autism is a spectrum disorder and can range from mild to severe. A study published in the Frontiers journal shows that several genes can contribute to social interaction-related problems.
However, these cases of autism only account for 10-20% of all cases. Genetic testing is available for autism and other disorders but isn’t yet conclusive enough for screening or diagnosing.
Genetic testing that looks at genes linked to autism can help determine whether you are at risk for developing the condition. If you already have a child with autism, genetic testing may indicate if there is anything that could be done to prevent another child from developing the condition.
Other Disorders Like Fragile X Syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis
In addition to autism, other genetic conditions can cause symptoms similar to or overlap with autism. For example, Fragile X syndrome is one of the most common causes of intellectual disability and developmental delays. People with Fragile X syndrome might have some autism-like symptoms, such as speech problems and repetitive behaviors. Still, they can also have trouble learning social skills and be more likely to develop epilepsy than people with autism. If you want to learn more about fragile x syndrome, you can check out these Fragile X carrier symptoms to learn more.
Another genetic disorder, tuberous sclerosis (TS), causes tumors to grow on the brain and elsewhere in the body. Like fragile X syndrome, TS has been linked to mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and developmental delays. However, it’s unclear whether TS will lead directly to an ASD diagnosis without other symptoms present at birth as well).
Parent’s Age
One of the most obvious risk factors for autism is your parents’ age. As you may have guessed, younger parents are more likely to have children with autism than older ones. The exact reason for this is unclear, but biological and environmental factors likely cause it.
The risk increases significantly with the mother’s age and decreases slightly with the father’s age. This might be because older men produce more sperm cells, some of which may carry genetic mutations associated with autism. But since women have a limited number of eggs, their chances aren’t as high as those who had sex at a younger age before deciding to start a family.
Preterm Delivery
As you might have guessed, preterm delivery is one of the risk factors for developing autism. It’s also a common reason children may be more likely to develop other health problems, including learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The exact reasons why premature birth can lead to these conditions are unknown, but it’s been theorized that it has something to do with brain development.
A study on brain scans of children who had been born prematurely revealed that their brains were smaller than those who had not been born prematurely. Because babies’ brains still develop during the first few years after birth and continue growing until they reach puberty, any damage done early on could affect how they grow later in life.
Pollution
Besides genetics, a few environmental factors can increase your child’s chances of developing autism. One of them is pollution.
Air pollution is linked to having a higher risk of ASD. A recent study published in the Pub Med journal analyzed the same. According to the study, the risk depends on the exposure time. If the exposure period is long and during the third trimester, the chances of autism are high. On the other hand, if the exposure period is low, the chances are low, too.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped answer some of your questions about what factors may increase your risk of developing autism and how to identify those risks. Remember that the best way to protect yourself against the development of autism is through early intervention and treatment.
