The Autism File » 09.19.12

Epigenetics: Marrying genetics and environment in autism research?

Funny how these few simple words can create so much tension. Down the years just about every area of health and disease has witnessed the grudge match that is nature or nurture. Obesity: food intake, or differences in the genes controlling how energy is used and stored? Heart disease: poor lifestyle choices, or genetic differences in our navigation of modern living? The list goes on and on and on in this often polarized debate.

Autism has, and continues, to have its own genes vs. environment debate. Indeed this debate has, perhaps above all others, contributed to quite a lot of the heated discussions in autism circles down the years on what is and isn’t autism in terms of aetiology and pathology. “It’s genetic,” say the twin studies. “No its not,” say the environmental camp, the two extremes sandwiched between various shades of gene-environment interactions in-between. Read Full Article


Epilepsy occurs at a much higher rate in children with the diagnosis of autism. I have a 7-year-old son with the diagnosis of PDD-NOS. After hearing Michael Chez, MD, speak about the high rate (about 66%) Read	Families today choose to take vacations with their loved ones rather than leave them at home with a caregiver or in lieu of skipping a vacation altogether. Read	Healthy eating has been the subject of debate among parents, dietitians, physicians, and chefs for years. Each group, having studied their particular belief, is confident that they are correct. And there are facts to back up many points of view. Read	In June 1979, Paul and Ann de Savary were elated by the birth of their daughter, Laura, but when she was 6 months old, their world was shattered by the devastating news no parent wants to hear: Read


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