How is autism caused?
- Genes
- Inherited and acquired mutations
- Gene expression
- Environment
- Too much bad, not enough good
- Different levels of environment: Physical, biological, social, emotional
- Physiology
- Molecules – different molecules, different molecular interactions
- Biochemistry and metabolism – some pathways working harder, other pathways stuck
- Organ systems – gastrointestinal, immune, endocrine/hormone
- Brain
- Brain modules under- or over-active
- Brain networks and connections differently mapped or differently active
- Brain cells and tissue affected by physiological problems like inflammation and oxidative stress
- Too much or not enough of brain chemicals like neurotransmitters or neuropeptides
- Total load / allostatic load /cumulative stress
- Cumulative impact of genetic vulnerabilities, environmental stressors, lack of environmental supports all shift the functioning of the system
