10/26/2018 0 Comments Falling on the spectrumRecently, I have been watching a Netflix series called “Atypical.” The show is centered around a boy with autism and focuses on his interactions with family, friends, and the world around him. The episodes depict behaviors that an individual on the spectrum may exhibit. Essentially, this coming of age feature gave inspiration for today’s disorder. What is autism?Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability that expands over a broad range of people. signsSome early signs of ASD include:
What Causes it?There is not a set cause for autism. However, autism can be traced to genetic and environmental influences. These factors do not necessarily imply that a child will develop autism, but they heighten the risk of the disorder. The following characteristics will generally make one more susceptible to developing autism: Genetics
The following can decrease the risk of autism:
These factors only highlight what can increase or decrease risks of individuals to develop ASD. the brain & AutismAlthough like many other disorders, autism does not have a specific cause, the brain of individuals with ASD differs slightly than a typical brain. In 2014, research on brain tissue showed that individuals with autism had an amplitude of synapses within the brain. Synapses are connections in the brain that bridge gaps between nerve cells and allow impulses to be transmitted along neural pathways. What the excess in synapses tells us is that synaptic pruning in autistic brains did not occur as effectively. Synaptic pruning is the elimination of synapses that are not used. In a newborn’s brain, an overload of synaptic connections are formed between stimuli. However, not all of these connections are regularly used, which leads to the pruning and cleaning of extra synapses. Additionally, in this study from Columbia University Medical Center, researchers found some correlation to the inefficient pruning. The brain cells of individuals with autism contained damaged fragments and did not have enough components that are linked to autophagy. Autophagy is the self breakdown and elimination of one’s body tissue; this is linked to the synaptic pruning. takeaway 🎈Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can occur from infancy to adulthood. Some early signs are linked to a disinterest in socialization and the formation of relationships. Additionally, some factors linked to genetics and environment can increase or decrease an individual’s risk of developing autism. The biology of the brain of an individual with ASD goes through less synaptic pruning than a typical developing brain, which results in more neural synapses than usual. links
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