Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnoses are on the rise, with recent statistics estimating that 1 in 36 children are identified as having autism in the United States. This marks a significant increase from the year 2000, when the prevalence was estimated to be 1 in 150 children. As more families grapple with the challenges of autism, the question on many parents’ minds is: what causes this complex condition?
While genetic factors undoubtedly play a role in autism risk, the rapid increase in ASD diagnoses over the past few decades suggests that genes alone cannot fully explain the current autism epidemic. In fact, research indicates that environmental factors, including prenatal stress, air pollution, and metals, may interact with genetic vulnerabilities and give rise to autism.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the complex interplay between genes and environment in autism, exploring the latest scientific evidence and challenging the notion that autism is solely determined by one’s DNA. By the end of this article, you’ll have a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to autism risk and the steps you can take to support your child’s healthy development.
Understanding Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior. The term “spectrum” reflects the wide variation in the type and severity of signs individuals with autism may experience.
While no two people with autism are exactly alike, there are four core areas where traits typically manifest:
- Communication deficits: children with autism may have difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication, such as delayed language development, echoing words or phrases, or struggling to maintain a conversation.
- Social challenges: Autism can impact a person’s ability to read social cues, maintain eye contact, and understand emotions. This can make it challenging to form and maintain relationships.
- Restrictive and repetitive behaviors: These can include rigid adherence to routines, intense interest in specific topics, and repetitive behaviors and movements like hand flapping or rocking.
- Sensory processing differences: Many people with autism experience heightened or diminished sensitivity to sensory input, such as sounds, lights, or textures. This can lead to sensory-seeking or sensory-avoidant behaviors.
It’s essential to recognize that while these challenges are common among individuals with autism, the severity and presentation of traits can vary greatly from person to person. Some individuals may have mild traits that are barely noticeable, while others may require significant support in their daily lives.
Furthermore, it’s important to acknowledge that alongside these challenges, many children with autism also possess unique strengths and abilities. These may include exceptional memory, attention to detail, or creative thinking skills.
As we explore the potential causes of autism, including the role of genetic factors, it’s crucial to keep in mind the diverse nature of this condition and the importance of approaching each individual with understanding and respect.
The Genetic Factors of Autism Spectrum Disorder
When faced with an autism diagnosis, many parents’ first question is whether autism is genetic. While it’s true that genes play a significant role in autism risk, the answer is not as simple as a straightforward “yes” or “no.”
The Complexity of Autism Genetics
One of the most important things to understand about autism genetics is that there is no single “autism gene.” Instead, research suggests that autism risk is influenced by a complex interplay of multiple genes, each contributing a small amount to the overall risk.
Studies estimate that the heritability of autism—the proportion of variation in autism risk that can be attributed to genetic factors—is between 40% and 80%. This means that genes play a role, but they are not the whole story.
Rare Genetic Variants and Autism Risk
In recent years, advances in genetic sequencing technologies have allowed researchers to identify 69 genetic variants that are associated with increased autism risk. These variants are typically found in genes involved in brain development, synaptic function, and communication between neurons.
However, it’s important to note that even these rare variants are not guarantees of an autism diagnosis. Many individuals who carry these variants do not develop autism, and conversely, many individuals with autism do not carry any known high-risk variants.
Limitations of Current Genetic Studies
Despite the progress made in understanding the genetic basis of autism, current genetic studies have significant limitations. For example:
- Only a small percentage of autism cases (10-20%) can be attributed to a known single-gene cause.
- Genetic testing often yields results that are difficult to interpret, with many variants of unknown significance.
- The majority of autism cases are believed to result from a complex interaction of multiple environmental factors and genetic risk factors, rather than a single causative gene.
Furthermore, genes alone cannot explain the rapid increase in autism prevalence over the past few decades. While better awareness and changes in diagnostic criteria have contributed to this increase, the pace of genetic change in the population is simply too slow to account for such a dramatic rise.
This suggests that while genetic factors do play a role in autism risk, they are not the whole picture. To fully understand autism, we must also consider the complex interplay between genes and environmental factors.
The “Perfect Storm”: Interplay of Genes and Environment
While genes play a significant role in Autism Spectrum Disorder risk, they are just one piece of the puzzle. To fully understand the causes of autism, we must consider the complex interplay between genetic vulnerabilities and environmental factors—a phenomenon we call the “Perfect Storm.”
What is the “Perfect Storm” in Autism?
The “Perfect Storm” refers to the idea that autism risk is shaped by a combination of factors that converge to disrupt normal neurological development. These factors can include genetic predispositions, prenatal influences, birth complications, and early life experiences.
Importantly, it’s not just the presence of these factors, but also their timing and sequence that matters. Exposures during critical windows of development, when the brain is most sensitive, can have outsized effects on future risk.
Prenatal Factors and Autism Risk
The “Perfect Storm” often begins before a child is even born. Prenatal factors that have been associated with increased autism risk include:
- Fertility struggles: Research shows that women who have trouble getting pregnant may face a higher risk of having children with autism and developmental issues later on. This link is well-known in clinical practice and is often associated with infertility treatments like IVF.
- Maternal psychological distress: High levels of stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy have been linked to altered brain development and increased risk of neurodevelopmental challenges in offspring.
Birth Complications and Trauma
The process of childbirth itself can also contribute to the “Perfect Storm.” Birth trauma and interventions that have been associated with increased autism risk include:
- Cesarean section delivery
- Induced labor
- Breech presentation
- Fetal distress
- Hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain)
These factors can cause physical trauma to the delicate nervous system, setting the stage for future developmental challenges.
Postnatal Environmental Exposures
After birth, a child’s developing brain remains vulnerable to environmental factors. Postnatal exposures that have been linked to increased autism risk include:
- Infections, particularly during the first years of life
- Antibiotic use, which can disrupt the gut microbiome and alter brain development
- Exposure to toxins, such as heavy metals and pesticides
- Chronic stress or trauma
These exposures can interact with genetic vulnerabilities to further derail typical neurodevelopment.
The Cumulative Effect on Neurological Development
It’s important to recognize that no single factor causes autism. Rather, it’s the accumulation of multiple risk factors over time that can overwhelm the developing nervous system and lead to the challenges we recognize as autism.
This understanding of autism as the result of a “Perfect Storm” of genetic and environmental factors has important implications for how we approach prevention and care. By identifying and addressing these risk factors early, we may be able to support healthier neurological development and improve outcomes for children at risk.
For a deep review at the rising rates of neurodivergent diagnoses, including Autism, read this article.
Nervous System Dysfunction in Autism
As we’ve seen, the “Perfect Storm” of genetic vulnerabilities and environmental exposures can derail typical neurodevelopment, leading to the challenges we recognize as autism. But how exactly does this happen? The answer lies in understanding the critical role of the nervous system in regulating all aspects of development and function.
Subluxation: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle
In chiropractic, we use the term “subluxation” to describe misalignments and tension in the spine that can interfere with proper nervous system communication. When subluxations occur, they can disrupt the flow of information between the brain and the body, leading to a wide range of dysfunction.
In the context of autism, subluxations can arise from the physical trauma of a difficult birth, the chronic stress of an overtaxed nervous system, or the cumulative impact of environmental exposures. These subluxations can impair sensory processing, motor coordination, and emotional regulation—all hallmarks of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Dysautonomia: When the Nervous System is Out of Balance
Closely related to the concept of subluxation is dysautonomia—an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is responsible for regulating unconscious functions like heart rate, digestion, and immune response. It consists of two branches: the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the “fight or flight” response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes “rest, regulate, and digest” functions.
In Autism Spectrum Disorder, it’s common to see an overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and an underactivation of the parasympathetic nervous system. This can lead to a state of chronic stress and inflammation, further exacerbating developmental challenges.
Detecting Nervous System Dysfunction with INSiGHT Scans
So, how can we identify these underlying nervous system imbalances? At PX Docs, we use cutting-edge technology called INSiGHT Scans to objectively measure nervous system function.
INSiGHT Scans include:
- NeuroThermal Scans: Measure temperature differences along the neurospinal system that can indicate areas of dysautonomia and dysregulation
- NeuroSpinal EMG Scans: Assess neurosensory and motor tension, asymmetry, and disorganization
- Heart Rate Variability Scans: Evaluate the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, so overall dysautonomia
By identifying specific patterns of nervous system dysfunction, INSiGHT Scans allow our doctors to create targeted care plans to address the root cause of a child’s challenges.
Caring for the Whole Child
Understanding the role of nervous system dysfunction in autism opens up new possibilities for care. Rather than focusing solely on managing symptoms like traditional medicine or targeting individual systems like integrative medicine does, a Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care approach works to address the central and autonomic nervous system, which controls and coordinates every other system of the body.
The Impact of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care is a non-invasive approach that aims to optimize nervous system function.The benefits of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care extend far beyond the musculoskeletal system.
By improving nervous system regulation, chiropractic care can support:
- Better sensory processing and integration
- Improved motor coordination and development
- Enhanced immune and digestive function
- More balanced emotional regulation
- Increased overall resilience and adaptability
When combined with other supportive therapies and lifestyle changes, Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care can be a powerful tool in helping children with autism reach their full potential.
Embracing a New Approach to Autism
The question “Does autism run in families?” has long been at the forefront of discussions about Autism Spectrum Disorder’s causes and cures. But as we’ve seen, reality is far more complex than a simple genetic equation.
While genes do play a role in autism risk, they are just one part of a larger “Perfect Storm” that includes environmental exposures, birth trauma, and other stressors that can derail nervous system development. By shifting our focus from genetics alone to the broader interplay of factors that shape brain development, we open up new avenues for understanding and supporting children with autism.
This Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care offers hope to families who may have felt discouraged by the limitations of a purely genetic view of autism. It empowers parents to take proactive steps to optimize their child’s development, rather than feeling resigned to a predetermined fate.
If you suspect your child may be struggling with the neurological imbalances associated with autism, we encourage you to visit the PX Docs Directory to find a qualified pediatric chiropractor near you. Together, we can help your child unlock their full potential and embrace a brighter future.
