Be careful when you conceive: Another theory of what causes autism
2006 having brought us a number of “interesting” theories of what causes autism—-TV, ultrasounds, infertility, older dads—I will add one more such theory to the pile: Time of conception.
According to an article, The future is orange in today’s Times Online, conception in late spring or early summer leads to an “increased risk” of autism, as well as to dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, bipolar disorder, narcolepsy, and seizures. This conclusion is taken from research on how the “latitude of your birthplace and how much solar radiation you were exposed to in the womb” can influence a person’s life; the research is by scientists from Maine Hospital on how “high radiation levels either stress the immune system of embryos and foetuses or cause small mutations in their DNA, which can either predispose or protect from disease, mould brain characteristics and influence length of life.”
For the record, my son Charlie was born in late spring (on the 15th of May).
I suppose I ought not entirely to take the findings referred to in The future is orange with so many grains of salt. The article also notes that, if you are born in December, your chances of living beyond 100 are 16 percent higher than average and I am a Sagittarius……
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15 opinions for Be careful when you conceive: Another theory of what causes autism
Daisy
Dec 30, 2006 at 12:14 am
I can’t resist the opportunity to debunk yet another theory. I am also a Sagittarius, and the women in my family rarely live past 65. Both my kids were winter babies — one December, one January. One is neurotypical, one has Asperger’s and is blind. Can you guess which is which? I didn’t think so.
:) I’m certain, very certain, that in my family autistic traits are somehow genetic.
mcewen
Dec 30, 2006 at 12:35 am
Dear Daisy - think ours our too [genetic that is to say] Only wish I had someone else to blame, but you kind of get used to it after a while, sort of goes with the territory of being a parent.
Cheers
Julia
Dec 30, 2006 at 12:52 am
Hm. Conception.
One shortly after Labor Day weekend, the others in January. Neither fitting the late spring/early summer conception time.
The non-verbal autistic kid resembles both grandfathers more strongly than either of his siblings. Both grandfathers were probably on the spectrum. (One of the others resembles one grandfather and the grandmother from the other side, mostly. And the remaining one has traits from both grandmothers and at least one grandfather visible. None of the grandparents can really be called “neurotypical” because the least autistic one is epileptic, which I at least consider to be outside the realm of “normal” brain. Hence my own personal dislike for the term “neurotypical”, but that’s just me.)
Danni
Dec 30, 2006 at 4:49 am
The only one of my siblings that isn’t autistic is the one who was conceived in late spring. I think genetics is a bigger factor here.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Dec 30, 2006 at 4:54 am
One of my grandfathers was on the spectrum, I think—no idea when he was conceived, as he was adopted!
Gerard Petillo
Dec 30, 2006 at 12:03 pm
If this hypothesis was true would autism spectrum be more prevalent in tropical warmer climates? (Florida, Caribbean, South America)
Where do vaccinations fit into this?
Just my 2 cents!
Gerard Petillo
Parents of A.N.G.E.L.S.
Bronx N.Y.
Laura Bailey
Apr 2, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I am 100% sure that ultrasound is the root of the Autism epidemic in industrialized nations. Ultrasound became commonly used in the late 1980s and Autism really started to become noticeable in the early 1990s. Coincidence? I think not. The World Health Organization has plainly stated that ultrasond causes neurological damage. Not all fetuses are going to be affected and obviously male fetuses are more susceptible. Until ultrasound is stopped in routine prenatal care, Autism will remain an epidemic.
Bonnie Sayers
May 6, 2008 at 11:14 pm
My kids were born in March and June. One in NJ and one in CA. The NJ one was conceived in CA and the CA one was conceived in FL.
I have heard that preemies have problems later in life. I am 48 and was born at 3 lbs and in an incubator for six weeks (in NJ). My son born in CA weighed almost 12 lbs and the child I gave up for adoption in 1978 in NJ weighed almost 11 pounds. The father was the oldest of 9 and one brother had MR or DS. Back then it was just called handicapped so not sure. I have no clue to the son I had or what his life is like. This was with catholic charities in Newark. Before he turned 18 I could have written a letter to be put in his file and I was going to do that and then got an autism dx and had to make a decision and decided I could not devote time and money for a search. I have wondered if there was a way to locate him and let him know autism and alzheimers is in the family, but maybe he knows or the autism could be on the fathers side and not affecting that first born I had. I did not have an ultra sound that I can recall, but did have a C section.
I worked at Merck when pregnant with Nick and drank well water when pregnant with both. I told all this to the Drs during AGRE and Univ of WA research studies we took part in.
Gene Ginter
Jun 1, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I believe there is a strong correlation between Ultrasound use and Autism. In the early 90’s Ultrasound equipment was greatly improved to provide better imaging. In the 90’s, high resolution scanners with digital beamforming, high transducer frequencies, multi-channel focus and broad-band transducer technology became state of the art. The improvements, I believe, caused an increase in the Autism rates that spiked in 1994 and continued to rise. In England they routinely give a pregnant woman two Ultrasounds. The Autism rate in England is 1 in 100! One researcher said, “If there is no obvious clinical indication for diagnostic in-uteroultrasonography, physicians might be wise to caution their patients about the vulnerability of the fetus to noxious agents.” I would advise against any Ultrasounds during pregnancy! Additionally, Ultrasound has not improved the chances of having a healthy baby.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 1, 2008 at 8:44 pm
But the question remains, if the “link” between autism and ultrasounds is mostly a correlation, and not indicative of a cause.
Julia
Jun 1, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Gene, does your theory explain why the child who only was subjected to 1 ultrasound is so much more severely autistic than the 2 that were subjected to 6?
(The 1 was the one “routine” one that OB would order. The 6 were due to them being twins, and wanting to keep very close tabs on their development. And ultrasounds are a very good tool for figuring out if there is likely to be a problem with multiples, and do an early C-section if that will improve the babies’ chances of survival, which in the case of monoamniotic twins, it will — and there’s no way that I know of to determine whether or not twins are monoamniotic besides ultrasound.)
Emily
Jun 1, 2008 at 9:22 pm
The MS and timing of conception/birth correlation has been around awhile.
All of my children were conceived in the fall/winter. They were all born in the same city in Texas, although one gestated primarily in Northern California.
Gene Ginter
Jun 1, 2008 at 9:29 pm
There are a number a variables with Ultrasounds; type, duration, equipment, training of operator, etc. A study needs to be done to prove the correlation and possible cause. There are cases where Ultrasounds are warranted, but the value has to be weighed with the possible damage. I agree in the rare instances of monoamniotic twins, an ultrasound would probably improve their chance of suvival.
Gene Ginter
Jun 1, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I am not alone in this theory -
November 2006
New Jersey Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio, R-Montville, has introduced legislation to have the state Department of Health investigate a possible link between sonogram and the increasing incidence of autism. Pennachio noted that “various scientific, published studies that show a displacement of brain cells associated with autistic children and the ability of sonograms to displace those cells.” Dr. Philip A. DeFina, a neuropsychologist, and Dr. Sandlin Lowe, both of the New York University School of Medicine’s Brain Research Laboratories and the International Brain Research Foundation, have been “working closely” with Pennachio on this, according to today’s Daily Record.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 1, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Yes, here’s a post on this—funding for this did not pass in NJ.
http://www.autismvox.com/a-whole-lot-of-autism-to-account-for-in-new-jersey/
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