Spoiler alert: Scientists haven’t pinpointed one root cause of autism. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying. And studies, like this one, can help medical experts to better understand the intricate processes behind the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and guide the creation of new and more effective therapies.
New research published in the journal “Molecular Psychiatry” found a possible link between the chemical messenger nitric oxide in the brain and a sequence of events that could potentially trigger the development of ASD. While this study certainly doesn’t point to an exact cause of autism, it is a step towards understanding it.
Do experts know what causes autism in children?
From Tylenol to vaccines, when it comes to ASD, the news cycle has been stuck on one question: What is the cause? And while there’s little actual evidence to back up the validity of these claims, sensationalized science has taken social media by storm. That makes it important for parents to get reliable info from reliable sources with real training in medical and scientific research.
In a joint statement, some of the country’s leading autism organizations, including the Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, voiced an increasing concern about the false narrative of vaccines causing autism or that it is somehow a “preventable” childhood disease. The statement also advocates for evidence-based policy, making it essential for real, credentialed experts to conduct research. With that in mind, parents, grandparents, and anyone who cares for children may want to take note of this new study.
Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem examined the chain of neurological events triggered by nitric oxide in the processes that regulate cell growth and protein production. So what does this really mean? Of course, all of the science-y lingo can make it tricky (at best) for any parent to understand whether the experts do or don’t know what could or couldn’t possibly cause ASD.
Study co-author Haitham Amal, Satell Family Professor of Brain Sciences, explains in ScienceDaily, “Autism is not one condition with one cause, and we don’t expect one pathway to explain every case.” Amal goes on to add, “We hope to provide a more precise map for future research and, eventually, more targeted therapeutic ideas.”
What is the future of ASD research?
While the serious science behind studies like this one may not make much sense to most parents, as Amal notes, it may add to the growing body of research on the subject. Want to learn more about the nitric acid-biological pathway connection to ASD? If you’re in the mood for some heavy academic reading, check out the full study in the journal “Molecular Psychiatry” for yourself!
