Patient's question:
What causes children to develop childhood autism?Doctor's answer:
Hello, this condition is also known as autism and is classified as a developmental disorder caused by a neurological disorder.1. Genetic factors: Research indicates that genetic factors are a predisposition to this condition. The concordance rate for autism in monozygotic twins is over 90%, while dizygotic twins show a concordance rate of 24%. The siblings of autistic children have a 3 to 4 times higher risk of developing autism, suggesting a correlation with genetic factors, though the specific genetic mechanisms remain unclear.
2. Brain organic factors: Autistic children may have a history of perinatal damage, abnormal electroencephalograms, neurological soft signs, and a higher incidence of epilepsy. In some cases, CT scans of the head suggest ventricular enlargement, while MRI imaging shows underdevelopment of the vermis in some children, leading to the belief that this condition is related to functional impairments caused by central nervous system abnormalities.
3. Neurochemical factors: Children's behavior is closely related to neurotransmitters. Research suggests that a decrease in central nervous system 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and/or dopamine activity may be involved. Hypothalamic dysfunction can also lead to autism.
4. Cognitive deficits: Some have proposed a theory linking cognitive function to social function, suggesting that psychological cognitive deficits impair the ability of autistic children to understand others' mental states, resulting in a lack of social interaction skills, even treating people as if they were inanimate objects, often misinterpreting others' conscious behaviors.
5. Multiple etiologies: Many studies have shown that autism is often associated with certain conditions, such as Fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, congenital rubella, phenylketonuria, and purine metabolism disorders. Therefore, autism is considered a neurosyndrome with multiple etiologies.