Research focused primarily on genetic factors for autism until the past couple of decades when the role of the environment and the immune system garnered increased attention. With the major increases in the incidence of autism, considered epidemic by many, it was clear that the environment, from prebirth through the early years, played a significant role.
Some children with autism appear different from birth, yet about half of children with autism develop the symptoms while a toddler, usually between 1.5 to 3 years of age. Attention has been focused on possible environmental reasons for what is called a “regression” in communication skills, social skills, and cognition (mental functioning).
Environmental factors include issues such as exposure to a virus, seizures, vaccines, and candida or yeast overgrowth as well a number of prenatal factors.
See our article on Recent Research on Dietary Factors in Autism for a selection of recent studies focused on diet as related to symptoms of autism.
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