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The Mystery of Autism: 4 Potential Causes that May Surprise You

by Lindsay Hutton

In This Article:

Rise in cases

Could you inadvertently be putting your child at risk of developing autism? According to an October 2009 study in the journal Pediatrics, 1 out of every 91 kids between the ages of 3 and 17 is now diagnosed with some form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Such large numbers have pushed many researchers to delve into what may be causing this disorder to continuously increase year over year.

Although it is important to note that the causes of autism remain largely unknown, new studies are currently being conducted in hopes of finding some answers to this increase in autism cases, and pinpointing possible environmental factors that may be putting children at risk for this disorder.

As a parent, you want to do everything you can to protect your child. So what, exactly, are scientists looking at as possible links? Although genetics and vaccinations are two factors that have been widely debated, more research is being done on these and other possible causes in hopes of solving the mystery of what is causing autism in children.



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