Among the body systems involved in autism is obviously the brain. Anatomical differences in the cerebellum and amygdala have been noted in multiple studies, and other regions have been inconsistently identified as diverging from the average [116].
Autism affects parts of the brain that control emotions, communication, and body movements. By the toddler years, some children with ASDs have unusually large heads and brains -- which may be because of problems with brain growth.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous, behaviorally defined, neurodevelopmental disorder that has been modeled as a brain-based disease. The behavioral and cognitive features of ASD are associated with pervasive atypicalities in the central nervous system (CNS).
Some common physical challenges experienced may include: Decreased balance and coordination, including decreased automatic reactions to keep themselves upright when losing balance, or protect themselves when they fall, which is especially noticeable with increased task difficulty.
At least one study shows that in adulthood, autistic people have lower heart rate variability than their typical peers. And in a study published in March, researchers tracked heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia in 118 children, 12 of whom have autism.
This paper first reviews research which shows that autism impacts many systems in the body, including the metabolic, mitochondrial, immunological, gastrointestinal and the neurological. These systems interact in complex and highly interdependent ways.
Common life experiences such as facing the death of a loved one, failed romantic relationships, employment problems, etc., can exacerbate autism symptoms in adults. In these cases, autism symptoms can get worse with age, but not necessarily due to the disorder neurologically worsening.
Since there is no physical test to diagnose this complex neurodevelopmental condition, doctors use behavior, history, and parent-reported interviews to diagnose ASD. Research is suggesting that, in future, brain scans may be used to diagnose autism, possibly even before behavioral symptoms become apparent.
Due to its lower prevalence in females, autism was always thought to have a maternal inheritance component. However, research also suggests that the rarer variants associated with autism are mostly inherited from the father.
The most common gastrointestinal complaints in autism are constipation, diarrhea, and gastroesophageal reflux2 (heartburn). Reports of GI problems in children with ASD range from 9 to 70 percent, with autism clinics reporting the higher amount, according to an article in the journal Pediatrics.
Does High-Functioning Autism Get Worse With Age? Autism doesn't change or worsen as someone gets older. Unfortunately, there's no known cure for autism. No matter what people say, the idea that one day someone with autism can wake up and will no longer be autistic is, was, and will forever be untrue.
Only one qualitative research focused on the pain experience among individuals with ASD. It indicated that adults with ASD often feel pain differently than neurotypical individuals, and some reported experiencing pain evoked by stimuli that usually do not cause pain in neurotypical adults.
“Whereas in the autism brain, the cellular structure of blood vessels continually fluctuates, which results in circulation that is fluctuating and, ultimately, neurologically limiting.”
Evidence has shown children with autism have immature and abnormal breathing patterns. Symptoms of this can include breath holding, “playing” with their breath, irregular fast upper thoracic breathing and so on.
Genetics. Genetic factors may be the most significant cause of autism. Early studies of twins had estimated heritability to be over 90%, meaning that genetics explains over 90% of whether a child will develop autism. This may be an overestimation, as later twin studies estimate the heritability at between 60 and 90%.
If you or a loved one has ASD, paying close attention to the foods being consumed is particularly important. For our patients with autism, we often recommend an elimination diet—eliminating gluten, dairy, sugar, corn, soy, and other categories of potentially allergenic foods for one month.
In the autistic brain, the brain reduced connectivity, known as hypoconnectivity, allows weakly connected regions to drift apart, with sulci forming between them.” Research has shown the deeper theses sulcal pits are, the more language production is affected.
GI distress in ASD may be due to an altered intestinal microbiome. The “leaky gut” and gut-brain axis indicates the mechanism by which these altered metabolites can enter the systemic circulation and directly affect neurodevelopment.
Several studies find that some ASD children have low immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA), and/or low T cell numbers, altered cytokine profiles, and/or low-normal functioning and/or low NK cells; a subset of children have true immunodeficiency.
Some believe that autistic people aren't interested in romantic relationships or aren't capable of romantic love. However, this is far from the truth. In fact, autistic people can make wonderful partners.
The life expectancy for Level 2 ASD ranges from 50-60 years old. This is slightly lower than Level 1 and the national average. In some studies, the life expectancy is even lower.
Widespread stereotypes suggest that people with autism are incapable of feeling romantic love. In reality, people with autism can experience romantic love and often attach considerable value to their close relationships.