I do agree with the poster who said (paraphrase, forgive me) that the rise in rate of diagnosis of autism has far more to do with doctors than environmental factors. The criteria for qualifying autism have becom far, far more broad and sweeping over the last 15 years or so, and at an exponential rate.
However, it is worth noting that many of the traits for autism: detail oriented, good with numbers, systems, and data, etc... are far more likely to be successfull economically these days. Therefor particularly for males (who may not have had a chance 50+ years ago; remember the "Poindexter" stereotype anyone...?) are more likely to get a mate and reproduce.
Also, our current society makes it easier for people who lack social capacity to make up for it with less direct interfaces that are easier for autistic people to cope with. For example, they can still meet people online; say... Facebook, or Match.Com, or... whatever, and get comfortable enough to eventually meet someone in person. Otherwise when forced to cope with a direct face to face interaction right off the bat they may have become overwhelmed, and been too awkward to connect. Not to mention that "like does attract like". At least, to a point anyway. Our society for the last few decades has been evolving to reinforce and in many ways redefine those "autistic" traits as "successful" traits.
Long story short, I think that there is a genetic factor here that is huge.
For the record: diagnosed aspergers myself, with a daughter the same, and I kinda resent it when people imply that there is something "wrong" with how we are wired, and that we can be "fixed" if we just stop eating sugar, or meat, or bread, or take the right supplements, or go to this seminar, or if we didn't get vaccinated, or on and on and on and on... I've heard it all. Also, for the record, my daughter began manifesting autistic traits by six months well before the MMR, and I was speaking full sentences by 12 months; again before the MMR. Now, we are o.k. I don't think there is anything wrong with us. However...
It cannot be said that environmental factors are completely out of the question, and not everyone is o.k. There may be a genetic perpensity that is sensitive to environmental factors; and this is where I think that epigenetics gets interesting. I think that diet is a long shot as a factor, but in good conscience I cannot rule it out completely. Although, if I found out that I could "cure" myself by eating less gluten or high-fructose corn syrup, I wouldn't change a goddam thing about how I eat.
edit on 17-4-2012 by redhorse because: (no reason given)
edit on
17-4-2012 by redhorse because: (no reason given)
