Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests as “persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts” (DSM-5, 2013). This is subject to several different situational manifestations, and is also identified through restricted and repetitive behaviours, and trouble developing and maintaining relationships (DSM-5, 2013). Diagnosis generally takes place as early as one year of age, but this can differ depending on the individual’s case.
Due to the wide range of symptoms that individuals with this disorder display, there is no one cause of the disorder. It is generally due to a combination of many biological, genetic, and environmental …show more content…
The importance of this protein in understanding autism is linked to a symptom of autism, which is rapid head growth in the first year of a child’s life. Indicative association stemming from research holds a link between the subtype copy number of DUF1220 and the severity of autism in an individual.
Another contribution is the Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that is the leading cause of inherited mental impairment. This disorder manifests neuropathologically through large numbers of abnormally long, thin torturous dendritic spines (Belmonte, & Bourgeron, 2006). Research has only observed these long dendritic spines among autistic individuals with low IQ, this suggest an area of common mechanism linking these two disorders. However, this does not account for the large number of autistic individuals who do not have low IQ’s.
Suggestions for autistic treatment in this field include drugs that alter excitatory or inhibitory tendency on the level of the synapses in order to prevent further disorder development. These research suggestions are crucial in the treatment and prevention of autism, as they promote an understanding of the underlying neurological …show more content…
Several teratogens display a contribution to the development of autism in the fetus through prenatal maternal exposure (Dufour-Rainfray, et al., 2011). The introduction of valproic acid, ethanol, thalidomide, and misprostol as early as the 18th day of pregnancy increases the proportion of autism development in studies. These toxic substances, which come form the environment, each have a different effect on the genes of the fetus, but remain consistent in their effects on the fetus in modifying a great number of gene