Autism Research

There are no certainties on the causes of autism. Some scientists believe that it is environmental and some scientists think it is from genetics. Studies have shown that people with autism have irregularities in certain areas of the brain. Scientists have also found that there are abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain. These abnormalities suggest that autism could result from the disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and that regulate how neurons communicate with each other. Recent studies strongly suggest that some people have a genetic predisposition to autism.

Much research is being done to discover the causes of autism and help prevent it. Some of these sites might be useful:

National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), at: www.naar.org/naar.asp

Cure Autism Now (CAN), at: www.cureautismnow.org/

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)'s Autism page, at: www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm

Organization for Autism Research (OAR), at: http://www.researchautism.org/