What Causes Autism in Children? [2025 Guide]
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting millions of people. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD. There are multiple potential causes of the disorder, which continues to be studied by researchers across the globe.
Most scientists agree that autism may be the result of environmental or genetic factors. In some cases, the condition may be caused by both. In recent years, scientists have been studying how ingestion of heavy metals, especially in early childhood, may contribute to developing the disorder.
About the Causes of Autism in Children:
About Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Is There a Single Cause of Autism?
Environmental Factors That May Contribute to Autism
Heavy Metals in Baby Food and Autism Risk
Debunking the Vaccine-Autism Myth
The Role of the Gut-Brain Connection in Autism
Does Parenting or Social Environment Cause Autism?
Ongoing Research on Autism Causes
King Law Is Intaking Autism Lawsuits for Children
About Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects behavior, communication, and social skills. As reported by the CDC, the condition is almost 4 times more prevalent in boys compared to girls. Early diagnosis of ASD is often critical and can help to establish effective interventions to help the child thrive.
Because ASD is a spectrum disorder, its symptoms and severity vary widely. Symptoms may include social communication deficits, such as aversion to eye contact and stilted speech, to behavioral conditions, including sensory hypersensitivity, difficulty coping with change, and hand flapping.
Is There a Single Cause of Autism?
Most experts agree that autism results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. These factors include gene mutations, advanced paternal age, and postnatal exposure to heavy metals. Parents who believe their child may be exhibiting signs of autism are encouraged to seek the advice of a healthcare provider immediately.
Genetic Factors and Autism
Genetics is believed to play a crucial role in developing ASD. According to researchers at UCLA, somewhere between 200 and 1,000 genes may impact the development of autism. Studies show that autism is hereditary, meaning that it does run in families. Some cases have been linked to inherited genetic mutations.
Heritability and Family History
Research indicates that autism is hereditary and does run in families. As reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), approximately 20% of children who have an older sibling with autism receive a diagnosis themselves. In cases of identical twins, which share the same genetic makeup, studies have shown that if one twin has autism, the other has between a 60 to 90% chance of also having the condition.
Genetic Mutations and Variants
Genetic mutations and variations also play a role in determining whether a child will have autism. New studies have focused on de novo mutations or new mutations not inherited from a person’s parents. Additionally, chromosomal abnormalities such as Fragile X, Down, and Rett syndrome have been linked to ASD. Gene-environment interactions may also modify autism risk. In these instances, genetics may make some people more susceptible to environmental factors and, therefore, increase the person’s risk.
Environmental Factors That May Contribute to Autism
There are a number of environmental and lifestyle factors that may contribute to children developing ASD. Exposure to environmental toxins in utero and in early childhood may raise the risk of a child developing ASD. However, certain external factors, such as parenting style and vaccines, have not been linked to an increased risk of autism.
Prenatal Risk Factors
Established prenatal risk factors for autism include maternal infection during pregnancy, such as rubella or influenza, gestational diabetes, and maternal obesity. Environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants, to pesticides, and heavy metals in baby food may also contribute to a person developing autism spectrum disorder.
Additionally, some research indicates that there may be a connection between particular seizure and antidepressant medications used during pregnancy, such as valproic acid and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and an increased risk of developing autism. These drugs may affect fetal neurodevelopment and may cause preterm birth, both of which are potential risk factors for the condition.
Birth-Related Factors
Several birth-related factors potentially play a role in the development of autism spectrum disorder. These factors include extreme preterm birth, very low birth weight, and complications during delivery, resulting in oxygen deprivation to the child’s developing brain.
Postnatal Environmental Exposures
In some cases, postnatal exposure to certain substances can also increase a person’s risk of developing autism. While research is ongoing, multiple studies have linked exposure to things like heavy metals in baby food to an increased risk of the condition. Autism may also be caused by soil, air, and water pollutants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
Research has also debunked the myth that other types of environmental exposures may be linked to an increased risk of autism. Environmental factors that have not been linked to ASD include vaccines (such as the MMR vaccine), diet, and parenting style.
Heavy Metals in Baby Food and Autism Risk
A 2021 Congressional Report found that commercial baby foods in the U.S. are tainted with toxic heavy metals. Heavy metals found in baby foods include arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Exposure to these heavy metals has been linked to serious behavioral and neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. It is believed that when these toxins are introduced, they may disrupt the development of the brain, impacting a person’s cognitive and social functioning.
The Congressional report focused on the following baby food brands:
- Nurture, Inc. (which sells Happy Family Organics, including HappyBABY)
- Beech-Nut Nutrition Company
- Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (which sells Earth’s Best Organic)
- Gerber
- Campbell Soup Company (which sells Plum Organics)
- Walmart Inc. (which sells Parent’s Choice)
- Sprout Foods, Inc.
Arsenic, lead, and cadmium were present in baby foods from all companies that provided internal testing results. In many cases, companies did not even test ingredients or final products for mercury, despite its toxicity. The findings have led to calls for stricter baby and toddler food regulations worldwide.
Debunking the Vaccine-Autism Myth
Despite the fact that the original study linking vaccines to autism has been debunked, many parents still remain fearful. The misconception that vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, cause autism originated in 1998 with a study published by Andrew Wakefield. The study has since been fully discredited and subsequently retracted by The Lancet.
Since its publication, there has been overwhelming evidence and consensus among the scientific community, including the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization, and multiple peer-reviewed, large-scale studies that confirm that there is no connection between the two.
Vaccines play a critical role in preventing the spread of disease and infection. Without these vaccines, many people die from curable conditions, and the vulnerable remain unprotected.
The Role of the Gut-Brain Connection in Autism
Emerging research suggests that there may be a link between the gut microbiome and certain symptoms related to autism spectrum disorder. A study published in the Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research found that autistic individuals often presented with variations in their gut microbiome composition. This has led some researchers to believe that dietary changes and the use of probiotics could impact ASD or help mitigate some symptoms related to the condition. However, to date, there is no proven cause or cure for autism.
Does Parenting or Social Environment Cause Autism?
Currently, there is no direct known cause of autism. However, some theories have been debunked, such as the idea that the condition is caused by cold or neglectful parenting. It is now understood that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is present from early childhood and even infancy. It is believed that both genetic and environmental factors may impact the likelihood that a child is diagnosed with autism, but not whether a parent is cold or neglectful.
Ongoing Research on Autism Causes
Today, research continues to try to determine the cause of autism. Recent studies, including a 2021 study in Molecular Psychiatry, discuss how environmental exposures are associated with an elevated risk of autism. Other recent studies are focused on genetic markers and neurological development and how these influences affect a person’s potential for being diagnosed with the condition.
Experts believe that early detection, along with early intervention, is critical to improve the outcomes for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Parents who believe that their child may be exhibiting signs of autism are encouraged to speak with a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
King Law Is Intaking Autism Lawsuits for Children
King Law is currently accepting cases for children diagnosed with autism after consuming at least six months of baby food products from a qualifying manufacturer. Baby food brands in the lawsuit include Gerber, Walmart (Parent’s Choice), Hain Celestial (Earth’s Best Organic), Sprouts, Plum Organics, Campbell, and Nurture, Inc.
Aggrieved individuals are encouraged to speak with an attorney immediately to determine their legal options. Lawsuits are being filed nationwide against baby food manufacturers, alleging the companies knew or should have known that their products contained toxic heavy metals.
Contact a Baby Food Autism Lawyer Today
Parents of children who were diagnosed with autism after consuming at least six months of qualifying baby food products are encouraged to contact King Law to discuss their eligibility in filing a baby food autism lawsuit.
The attorneys at King Law are well-versed in handling toxic exposure lawsuits. Working with an experienced attorney can help ensure you receive the personalized advice you need to move forward. The attorney will also assess the viability of the case and guide you through the legal process. Affected individuals are encouraged to contact King Law at (585) 496-2648 to schedule an initial consultation.