Prior studies have seen genetics as a possible role in the development of autism. However, two new studies question the risk of environmental conditions including some medications taken by the mother contributing to the development of autism.
These two different studies were published July 2011 in the Archives of General Psychiatry. One study concluded that environmental factors might increase the risk of a child developing autism. Some of the factors include stress, diet, infections, a mother’s age and medications, experts said. The new study didn’t try to determine what factors increased the risk.
In another study published Monday in the same journal, researchers found a higher risk of autism among children born to mothers who took antidepressants during the year before birth, particularly in the first three months of pregnancy.
The cause of autism and who has a higher risk continues to be an area without any definitive conclusions. Researchers continue to exam the complicated puzzle.
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