Does anyone have solid research to back up that autism is caused by any extrinsic factors?

Question

This information needs to be credible, not just something you found on the internet. So if you are not a medical professional who has studied autism like I have them please don't waste your time.

Thanks!!

Answer 1

I can summarize much of what I discovered from a lecture by Geraldine Dawson, PhD.

Genetics play a huge factor in a child's likelihood to have autism, but it's not totally genetics. If one fraternal twin is autistic, the 2nd twin is no more likely to be autistic than siblings born at different times (about 6%). But if one identical twin is autistisc, the 2nd child is at least 10 times more likely to be autistic than siblings born at different times (about 60-80%.) If genes were the sole cause of autism, the identical twin of an autistic child would ALWAYS be autistic. So it appears there are both intrinsic AND extrinsic factors, combined.

But, inspite of anecdotal stories, at least some of the children with autism, developed autism BEFORE 18 months, when the vaccinations take place. There was a study using home old videos taken at first birthday parties & they were able to identify 90% of the kids with autism. If at 12 months, they were already displaying autistic behaviors, the vaccinations couldn't have caused them. That does not rule out the possibility that as much as 10% of the autistic children "get it" from the vaccinations.

Answer 2

I have a brother and sister who are autistic. My sister, about 51/2 years younger than I, was actually normal till she was about 2 years old. She would answer questions, knew her colors, was somewhat smart. My mother needed emergency surgery when she was about 2, so she had a very mean aunt stay with us while she was in the hospital. She also developed chichen pox. After her chicken pox ended she was different. She would repeat what I said instead of answering a question, she forgot the colors and would not make eye contact. She also became somewhat hyper and was sensitive to noise and movement. This is personal experience. I told doctors, but they said it wasn't related and didn't even seem to care. I know it was related. I believe it might be caused from various viruses ( possibly different ones). I don't know other peoples experiences, but it was so obivious to me the chicken pox virus affected my sister.