<p>Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology and Director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University. In this Edge feature, he presents his new Assortative Mating Theory which connects his two fields of research: the characteristics of autism in terms of understanding what’s going on in the brain and the causes of the condition; and understanding the differences between males and females.</p>
<p>“My new theory is that it’s not just a genetic condition,” he says, "but it might be the result of two particular types of parents, who are both contributing genes. This might be controversially received. This is because there are a number of different theories out there — one of which is an environmental theory, such as autism being caused by vaccine damage — the MMR vaccine (the measles, mumps, and rubella combination vaccine). Another environmental theory is that autism is due to toxic levels of mercury building up in the child’s brain. But the genetic theory has a lot of evidence, and what we are now testing is that if two “systemizers” have a child, this will increase the risk of the child having autism. That’s it in a nutshell.</p>
<p>Baron-Cohen realizes that his theory might raise anxieties. “Just because it’s potentially controversial,” he says, “doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t investigate it. And there are ways that you can investigate it empirically.” </p>
<p>He also expects controversy. Given the continuing public discussing in the US about innate sex differences, he will, no doubt, be challenged when he says “It was interesting for me to discover that there’s been a sleight of hand, mostly in the States, such that the word ‘sex’ has been replaced by the word ‘gender’. Baron-Cohen believes that it’s time “to distinguish politics and science, and just look at the evidence”. Others will feel differently.”</p>
<p>Oh pleease! A child who has ASD certainly has genetic markers from their parents, but in the same post you actually included the disproven theories that there’s a mercury build up or a vaccine is to blame? Those two fallacies only came out because 1) parents wanted to blame someone with deep pockets and 2) they went overboard in their search to find a physical ailment. (Those parents should have been focused on what their child needs, not spin wheels that didn’t help.)</p>
<p>I know plenty of kids with Asperger’s. I also know their parents (I’m one of them.) Just like I notice how their children carry certain traits from their parents (such as the coloring or their gait), I can also trace Asperger’s too.</p>
<p>All that other stuff you wrote in your first paragraph like “Assortive Mating Theory” is just an attempt to explain a very basic premise: Asperger’s is genetic. Move on. What we need now is for the world to accept our kids and make opportunities for our kids as they get older. What we need now is to recognize just how common these issues are, not how different they are. Stop wasting money on what the causes are; it doesn’t help the kids who are already born, nor does it decrease the number of kids who struggle with it.</p>
<p>Thus, one thing the article notes is that autism seems to be more common in families with several generations of engineers.</p>
<p>I disagree about searching for the causes. Yes, it might not help existing kids, but it could limit the # of kids who have this problem in the future. It also looks like it might be possible to identify kids who might have this problem early on and intervene early on to help kids learn social cues at an age at which it’s too early to notice the lack of responsiveness to them.</p>
<p>I also think cause is important-
Something can look like autism- but is it caused by genetic factors, by mutation, by toxins in utero, by physical injury during birth, by a combination of those things?</p>
<p>I agree that resources are needed, no matter what the cause could be- however, treatment may be different.</p>
<p>Early identification is needed- but treatment is expensive & insurance often doesn’t cover it.
Parents who don’t have strong social skills themselves, don’t raise children with strong social skills. I is one. :o
Education about this spectrum is critical & the first who should be educated are Drs/pediatrician.
Being on the spectrum doesn’t always mean non-verbal.</p>
<p>I remember reading a study that showed the age of father as being very important for Spinal bifida- however when nutritional support ( like vitamin E & folate ) was given pre-conception, the incidence decreased.</p>