Autism is a disorder that is biological in nature, and it affects the development of the brain. It is a conglomerate of brain disorders where one is unable to interact with others. Autism causes one to neither learn nor communicate well from the onset of growth at the initial stages of life. Symptoms of include appear when one is 2-3 years old and the child shows repetitive behavior that is restricted. Currently, no drugs have proved efficient in curbing the symptoms that most often occasion autism, which might degenerate into epilepsy, gastrointestinal problems as well as sleep disorders (CDC, 2014)
Hypothesis
Genetic and environmental factors are the causes of autism. Genetic factors constitutes of mutation, copy number variants in just as well as the deletion of genes. Notably, genetic factors cannot alone sufficiently explain autism, implying therefore, that environmental factors at the initial stages of growth play a contributing role in the development of autism. Autistic patients experience sensory sensitivity. This sensory sensitivity usually would affect either one or more of their five senses. Respective to this, autistic patients are either hyposensitive or hypersensitive. This factor explains how the environment has an impact on the patients. Autistic individuals may find environments where other people find bearable unbearable that it may cause them pain or give them anxiety. In contrast, where other individuals find to be unbearable, the autistic individual may not get affected (CDC, 2014).
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Literature Review
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEH) funded a research that concluded that the high exposure risk which children suffer to autism are majorly contributed to by a raft of maternal and immune factors. The study provides the possibility for measures for the prevention of autism to be developed. According to the research by NIEH, expectant mothers who experience obesity, diabetes or inflammation may affect the fetal development of the brains of their babies therefore increasing the risk of autism (HE et al., 2014).
In March 2014, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1 out of every 68 children living in the United States of America is autistic and established a 30% rise from one out of every 88 children, 88 years back. Gene mutation is a major factor that causes autism. However, a study of twins, whereby one is autistic, demonstrates that autism is not wholly factored by gene mutation. According to a publication by the Journal of the American Medical Association , a study carried out on more than 14,000 children established that genetic factors only explain half of the risk and the other half-explained by non-genetic factors. The non-genetic factors are therefore the environmental factors. The environmental factors include the conditions of the expectant mother during fetal development or the environment during the initial development of a born child (CDC, 2014)
According to reports by the media, fathers of 40 years and above are highly likely to have autistic children due to gene mutation in their sperm production as they age. Mothers of 35 years and above similarly have the risk only that it is still cannot be scientifically explained.
Methodology section
Research will be carried out using population-based research, as it may be instrumental in revealing the relationship between the environment and the development of autism.
Participants
Participants will include individuals in the different states of the United States of America, alongside some others from South Korea, Israel, Australia, Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Apparatus
The apparatus to be used in the research include basic biological apparatus such as Bunsen burners, indicators, scalpels, petri-dishes, test tubes, microscopes, and fully equipped and functioning laboratory.
Procedure
Medical exams are conducted on the participants. The research involves the collection of biological samples from the autistic children, establishing the environmental exposures of the participants, noting the lifestyle, health and socio-demographics of the children.
Information of women who are in their early pregnancy stages is also collected as they advance in their pregnancy. The information is utilized to establish the environmental factors during these periods.
Design
The initial exposures is determined using samples of blood from the participants. The blood samples will establish gene mutation or deletions that lead to autism. Stem cells on the other hand study the environmental factors. There are known data associated with autism risk. Using the same data, researchers will tell which of the data is available in the environment that increases autism risk.
Results section
Maternal factors play a major role in the development of autism. When an expectant mother lacks certain nutrients, the deprivation may lead to autism as the neuron development of the fetus is affected. Expectant mothers are advised to take prenatal vitamin supplement to assist enhance fetal development. Research established that 40% who did, had the risk of autism lowered. Substance use of alcohol and cigarettes also plays a big role in increasing the risk of autism. An environmental factor such as air pollution is also a risk factor due the chemical components that alter proper fetal development (HE et al., 2014).
Discussion section
Notably, research has established that environmental factors play a role as a risk factor of autism. It is reported that he cause of autism is not universal but can be either environmental or genetic.
Researchers are in consensus about the fact that autism is an interplay between genetic factors and environmental factors and the only way to be certain is to study the relationship between the two. However, the limitation of study is that to determine the relationship, extensive data and information is required and for any future research, the same needs to be put in place.
References
Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network Surveillance Year 2010 Principal Investigators; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2014. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years - autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2010. MMWR Surveill Summ 63(2):1-21.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). 2014. Autism Spectrum Disorder – Data and Statistics. Available: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html [accessed 6 June 2014].
Volk HE, Kerin T, Lurmann F, Hertz-Picciotto I, McConnell R, Campbell DB . 2014. Autism spectrum disorder: interaction of air pollution with the MET receptor tyrosine kinase gene. Epidemiology 25(1):44-47.
Nordahl CW, Braunschweig D, Iosif AM, Lee A, Rogers S, Ashwood P, Amaral DG, Van de Water J. 2013. Maternal autoantibodies are associated with abnormal brain enlargement in a subgroup of children with autism spectrum disorder. Brain Behav Immun 30:61-65.
Brown AS, Sourander A, Hinkka-Yli-Salomaki S, McKeague IW, Sundvall J, Surcel HM . 2014. Elevated maternal C-reactive protein and autism in a national birth cohort. Mol Psychiatry 19(2):259-264.
Schmidt RJ, Hansen RL, Hartiala J, Allayee H, Schmidt LC, Tancredi DJ, Tassone F, Hertz-Picciotto I. 2011. Prenatal vitamins, one-carbon metabolism gene variants, and risk for autism. Epidemiology 22(4):476-485.
Schmidt RJ, Tancredi DJ, Ozonoff S, Hansen RL, Hartiala J, Allayee H, Schmidt LC, Tassone F, Hertz-Picciotto I. 2012. Maternal periconceptional folic acid intake and risk of autism spectrum disorders and developmental delay in the CHARGE (CHildhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment) case-control study. Am J Clin Nutr 96(1):80-89.
Hertz-Picciotto I, Green PG, Delwiche L, Hansen R, Walker C, Pessah IN. 2010. Blood mercury concentrations in CHARGE Study children with and without autism. Environ Health Perspect 118(1):161-166.
