Medical conditions related to autism

Autism is a neurobehavioral disorder of unknown etiology that causes social skills deficits, mental retardation,and severe language problems, including, in severe cases, a complete lack of any spoken language. In most cases of autism, no medical diagnosis that could explain the autistic symptoms is found, but in some cases, an underlying disorder that could cause the autistic symptoms is found.

Conditions that may mimic autism

• Tuberous sclerosis ^[1]
• Fragile X syndrome: Up to 6% of autistic patients have fragile X syndrome.^[2]
• Prader Willi syndrome^[3]
• Neurofibromatosis type one
• Rett syndrome^[4]
• Angelman syndrome^[5]
• Sotos syndrome, a disorder characterized by macrocephaly and caused by a mutation of the NSD1 gene on chromosome 5.
• Down syndrome
• William's syndrome

Controversial medical conditions that have been hypothesized to be related to autism

Autism has been hypothesized to be caused by a reaction to a vaccine (esp the MMR vaccine,a very important vaccination that prevents the sometimes serious diseases measles, mumps, and rubella). There is no evidence for these claims.^[6] it has also been theorized that Mercury in some vaccines could cause autism.Once again,there is no evidence to support these claims.^[7] At least 10 studies have refuted a possible link between vaccination with the MMR and autism.They are:

• A 1999 English study,which found no correlation between autism and vaccination with the MMR.
• A very large 2004 study of 5,500 children which found absolutely no link between MMR vaccination and autism spectrum disorder
• A Finnish study which found no link between the MMR and autism or any other neurological or behavioral pathology
• A French study of inflammatory bowel disease and autism which found no link between these disorders and the MMR
• As well as at least 5 other studies that found no link between the MMR vaccine, autism, or bowel disease.^[8]

As of February 2, 2010, the medical journal The Lancet has formally retracted the statement that the MMR vaccine could be linked to autism and bowel disease.^[9] In January 2011, the study which provided the basis for this controversial belief was revealed to have been based on fraudulent data.

See also

• Autism
• Causes of autism
• MMR vaccine (not thought to be related to autism)
• Genetic disorders
• Autistic enterocolitis
• Mercury poisoning
• Autism therapies
• Neurodevelopmental disorder

References

1. ^ http://www.tsalliance.org/documents/TSC%20and%20Autism%20Spectrum%20Disorders.pdf
2. ^ http://www.fragilex.org/html/autism_and_fragile_x_syndrome.htm
3. ^ http://www.exploringautism.org/autism/evaluation.htm
4. ^ http://www.exploringautism.org/autism/evaluation.htm
5. ^ http://www.exploringautism.org/autism/evaluation.htm
6. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60330220100104
7. ^ http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/Thimerosal/Index.html
8. ^ http://www.ncirs.usyd.edu.au/facts/f-mmr.html#5
9. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aanxnRu__GuY

External links

• Autism Spectrum Research at the Open Directory Project