Autism Causes

Can Magnesium Deficiencies Cause Elevated Serotonin in Autism?

Autism is a severe developmental delay first diagnosed in childhood. As described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, autism is a biological and psychological disorder that has social implications. Individuals with autism...

Autism, Seizures & Diet

The causes of autism and epilepsy are still not fully understood, and dietary interventions for either condition are best considered as complementary or alternative therapies. Some individuals who experience autistic symptoms, epileptic seizures...

3 Ways to Understand Autism's Effect on the Brain

For reasons science can not fully explain, people with autism have larger, heavier brains than those without this disorder. The difference in size and weight can be seen in an MRI and can be used to confirm a diagnosis of autism (though not to...

Iodine And Autism

Six children out of every 1,000 children have autism spectrum disorder, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Autism spectrum disorder includes a number of different brain development disorders, the most serious...

Autism and Foods with Vitamin A

Autism is a developmental delay that causes symptoms including lack of eye contact and speech difficulties in children. Although the cause is unknown, many different theories exist. Some focus on poor nutrition and environmental toxins. Others...

Medications for Kids With Autism

A developmental disorder, autism causes children with the disorder to have social, behavioral and language-based symptoms. While treatment options are available for these symptoms, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that medications...

Dopamine and Autism

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that six out of every 1,000 children are diagnosed with autism. This neurological condition is characterized by various impairments, such as difficulty communicating, social...

What Vitamins Do Autistic Kids Need?

There are many theories about what causes autism. Some theories maintain that autism might be triggered by autoimmune disease or problems affecting a child's gastrointestinal tract. These conditions can lead to the malabsorption of essential...

Magnesium & Vitamin B6

Both magnesium and vitamin B6 are essential nutrients for proper body function. Each nutrient plays a role in different body processes. Their chemical differences determine how each will be used by the body. According to the Institute of Medicine,...

Tactile Hyperesthesia Causes

Tactile hyperesthesia, or hypersensitivity to touch, is a problem with sensory integration. Also called tactile defensiveness, people with this problem may react very strongly to even subtle sensations, and be in a state of constant...

Signs of Autism in 4-Year-Olds

Autism, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, falls under the general term of autism spectrum disorders, a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders. It affects a child's ability to socialize and communicate,...

Gluten-free Diet Benefits

Gluten is the protein found in cereal grains including wheat, rye and barley. It is what makes dough sticky. When mixed with water, gluten becomes a continuous elastic network that provides dough its strength and makes it a desirable ingredient in...

Influenza Vaccination Myths

Vaccines are complicated, so it's easy to see why there are misunderstandings---and no vaccine is as misunderstood as the influenza vaccine. Myths abound surrounding the flu shot, and the reasons people give for avoiding it are sometimes so deeply...

Early Childhood Autism

Autism is one of several autism spectrum disorders, or ASDs, that affect the way a child develops, grows and matures. It isn't exactly known how many U.S. children have autism, but statistics do show that it's far more common--three to four times...

Autism & Low Amino Acids

Autism and related developmental disorders are characterized by inability to communicate properly in social situations. Those with autism usually exhibit strongly habitual and repetitive behaviors throughout their lives including which foods they...

What Does Low Cholesterol Have to Do With Autism?

Those with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, display social impairments, language difficulties and repetitive or obsessive behaviors. It is a spectrum disorder as its severity and symptoms vary between individuals. The cause of autism is unknown,...

5-HTP & Autism

Autism is a term used to describe a diverse group of disorders characterized by impaired communication, limited social interaction and repetitive or restricted patterns of behavior. According to Dr. Jeremy Parr at the University of Oxford in the...

Autistic Diet

The role of diet in treating autism is an area of ongoing research. Anecdotal evidence supports the use of a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet to treat autism but scientific research has not confirmed its ability to treat the condition. In any...

Probiotics & the Borna Virus

The borna virus is an agent that may be linked to psychological illness. This fact has yet to be proven by medical science. According to the website Autism-Help, the most common link between borna disease and human illness is with those suffering...

Symptoms of Autism in Toddlers

Autism, among a group of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), causes behavioral, communication and social challenges. Because autism is considered a spectrum disorder, the symptoms range from very mild to extremely severe, according to the Centers for...

What Are the Early Signs of Autism?

There are 1.5 million people in the United States living with autism, according to the Autism Society. This developmental disability affects a person's ability to communicate and hinders his ability to interact with others. Although the exact...

Folic Acid & Autism

The causes of autism remain a mystery, but research is shedding light on factors that may play roles in the development of this condition. While folic acid is necessary for health, there are questions as to whether too much of the vitamin is...

Questions for a Pediatrician About an Autistic Child

Autism is defined as a brain disorder that impacts a child's ability to interact and communicate with others as well as to express their own thoughts and feelings. According to AutismSpeaks.org, one out of 110 children is diagnosed with autism. If...

What Is Autism for Kids?

Doctors diagnose approximately one in every 110 children with autism, according to AutismSpeaks.org, making it more prevalent than other well-known childhood diseases like cancer, diabetes and AIDS. While some kids show signs of autism during...

Children's Autism Symptoms

Autism, a developmental disorder, impacts a person's communication, behavior and social skills. Autism generally appears before the age of 3, and early intervention is recommended to ameliorate the symptoms. Autism disorder falls within a range of...

Peptides and Autism

The causes of autism are broadly defined as both genetic and environmental, but so many individual differences and genetic mutations exist that a narrower definition is elusive. With such diverse possibilities, different theories and alternative...

The GAPS Diet for Autism

The GAPS Diet, or Gut and Psychology Syndrome Diet, was developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride based on the work of Dr. Sidney Valentine Haas. Dr. Haas discovered the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to heal digestive disorders. In simple terms, the...

Autism Symptoms in Young Babies

Autism affects a child's brain, impacting her development and interaction with other people. While the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that autism symptoms fully present themselves by age 3, a regression of normal behavior can...

How to Prevent Autism

While there is no one cure or prevention of autism, genetics and environmental factors seem to increase the risk of autism. Autism is a spectrum of developmental disabilities that cause social, behavioral and communication problems. There is hope...

Healthy Food Choices for Autism (Video)

Autism is a developmental condition marked by a delay in social skills and trouble with communication skills. Learn about the best nutrition to prevent autism as best as possible in this health video.

Autism Health Video (Video)

Autism is a genetic brain development disorder that affects social behavior and communication skills. Get professional tips and advice on treatments, causes, and symptoms of autism in this video.