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California Autism Twin Study Suggests Prenatal Risk Factors Autism Speaks Official Blog
According to new research, autism could be caused by the environment. Scientists have been researching the push and pull that molds a growing brain. One study on twins that was published this week reported that the disease is about 60% environmental and 40% genetic. Other experts are disputing these links between environment and autism, still claiming that genes are the biggest cause of autism.
Twin Pairs With Autism Study, studied 192 pairs of twins in California - fraternal or identical - where at least one was affected by autism.
Using diagnostic techniques that included directly observing the children, scientists found 77 percent of male identical twins (from one fertilized egg) and 50 percent of female identical twins both had autism. These finding were not surprising since identical twins share the same genes.
The surprising findings in this study were the high rates of autism found in fraternal twins (un-identical twins from two fertilized eggs). Fraternal twins share no more genetic material than any other siblings; but they do share the same womb.
According to the research, these findings put a focus on environmental factors taking place during pregnancy. Factors could include stress, diet, infections, and a mother's age.
Another study on Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy and Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorders, shows a possible link between the use of antidepressants during pregnancy and the development of autism.
This second study showed mothers who took antidepressants during the year before birth - particularly in the first three months of pregnancy - were more likely to give birth to children with autism. Specifically, 6.7 percent of women taking antidepressants gave birth to a child with an autism spectrum disorder, compared to 3.3 percent of women who weren't taking antidepressants.