The Rise in Autism

[SageMother]

I know that much of the rise in autism can be attributed to diagnostic issues, but not all.

Could it be that the human race has reached its critical mass? Between generations of genetic replication and the changes in our planet's atmosphere, do you think the human race is going into a decline, with autism being the first warning signs?

[Green-Moo]

I think that an increase in the number of allergies and related illnesses is certainly telling us that we have a problem, but I'm not sure that I'd include autism.

[Guy]

I don't have any clinical evidence but I've always thought the rise in allergies especially was due to the change in the way children are brought up and play. A less active lifestyle with less outdoors activities exposes the children to less immune stimulants and so under developing their immune system.

I'm sure someone has done a study?

I'd also like to believe that we have reached critical mass and nature is doing it's best to make sure our numbers fall. Not exactly a bright outlook but necessary I think?

[Carl]

What do we mean when we say that we have reached 'critical mass'? What criteria are we using? Population density, environmental degradation...what? I think that as technology increases, we are overburdening our environment with toxic wastes that nature can't clean up in time, thereby overburdening our own systems. Couple that with our sedentary lifestyles, gluttony, processed foods, emotions on nitrous - I think we are ready to blow. A good test for the theory of evolution.

[justontime]

Originally Posted by SageMother

I know that much of the rise in autism can be attributed to diagnostic issues, but not all.

Could it be that the human race has reached its critical mass? Between generations of genetic replication and the changes in our planet's atmosphere, do you think the human race is going into a decline, with autism being the first warning signs?

My son has autistic spectrum disorder, so I have often wondered why he has it. I don't know all the answers but in some cases there is a family link. As you say diagnosis is much better now. I am not convinced that there was less autism in the past, maybe it was just unrecognised or hidden away. In some cases perhaps the person was just thought to be mad, or to use a word from the past an 'imbecile', If so they may well have been shut away in an institution if they survived that long. Some babies and children with autism have difficulty feeding and there is also a connection with bowel problems so in the past they may not have thrived. Those who had less severe symptoms may have just been thought of as a bit odd or a loner, but they may have managed to hold a job and lead a fairly ordinary life.

As a lifelong non smoker who has developed asthma as an adult, I am convinced that the huge increase in allergies and related problems is caused by pollution. The same may well be true of cancer and leukaemia.
Maybe our population will decline, but I don't think autism is the first warning sign.

[jazzgrrl]

Allergies it seems have been effected by environmental changes. Why autism? Why was this condition singled out? Just curious where the source is on this...

[Kitten]

I'm not sure if autism is one of them, but there 'are' signs elsewhere that something is up. I'm curious why you pulled autism out as the condition, too, as there are other conditions that have been linked to the environment...

[SageMother]

Originally Posted by Kitten

I'm not sure if autism is one of them, but there 'are' signs elsewhere that something is up. I'm curious why you pulled autism out as the condition, too, as there are other conditions that have been linked to the environment...

I mentioned autism because of the way it seems to be expressing itself. It seems devoid of an easily identifiable pattern.

When the plague cut its swath through Europe, people were at a loss regarding its cause. we now know it was an infection...which is an external cause.

Autism seems to be wandering the same field. Cases increase, which may be due to diagnosis but also could be due to something that is unknown to us at this technological stage. There may be a genetic "off switch" that we are unable to see, but is expressing itself as autism, right now. Since homo-sapien is the only species of homonid left....homo erectus and the other lines became extinct, could it be we have hit that "off switch?

The changes we have made to our environment have certainly had their impact, which may have turned on and internal code. The allergies, lung issues and all, may be some of the less serious symptoms, but autism may be the the flipped switch.

[steppysteph]

How our way of abusing the environment translates to a higher possibility of Autism is somehow eye opening. If only other people will see the other effects of abusing the environment other than global warming then it would be best.

[Buzz]

I believe that currently there are a lot more of illness that might be related with all the abuse we had made to the world. I've heard about autism, that it is a consequence of all the dirt in food, also about making our kids sick to sell medicines, etc. I'm not sure what to think about this case in particular.