We still have no idea why autism rates are
rising so seemingly dramatically.
It seems to be a combination of things
including a broader definition (most experts now speak of autism spectrum
disorders, or ASD,) not just autism),
greater awareness on the part of both health care professionals and families
with infants, recognition of much more “subtle” cases, better diagnostic
techniques, fewer diagnoses of similar developmental problems that used to
receive different names, as well as “something” in the environment.
What that something is, however, remains a
mystery, although we are getting more and more clues, at least about some cases
(as with “cancer” and “gluten allergy” and so many other problems, ASD is
probably several, perhaps many, different problems all manifesting the same
way).
Thus, a recent study found that some kinds
of DNA damage can raise the risk of ASD, and that DNA damage may occur more
frequently in the sperm of older dads, so that men over 45 have more chance of
siring a baby with autism than men younger than that.
And now a smallish study from the US found
that mothers who are obese seem to be more likely to have children with autism
and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
And given the steadily increasing weights
of younger women in North America, if that finding holds up in bigger studies,
it’s a cause for concern.
That said, it must also be pointed out that
the large majority of obese moms will not give birth to a child with
neurodevelopmental disorders.
And also, it may not be obesity per se
that’s the risk factor but rather something that’s common to both obesity and
autism that shows up in this kind of study.
At any rate, until we know much morel, to
the extent possible, young women who are considering getting pregnant – in
fact, all women whether they plan to get pregnant or not (as well as all men,
too, to be sure) – should try to do everything they can to keep their weight
within normal limits – or at least somewhat close to it.
