According to experts, genetic factors play a very important role in the pathogenesis of autism. In some specialized studies, it has been shared that up to 25% of autism cases are related to genetic factors. That’s why many parents often wonder, “Is autism inherited?”.
A Brief History of Autism
Autism, also known by many as autism spectrum disorder, is a common childhood disorder that includes a variety of clinical manifestations characterized by deficits in social skills, especially communication skills, using language. In addition, children with this syndrome also tend to often repeat abnormal actions, withdraw, shy away from communication and do not want to be close to anyone.
In addition, children with autism may also have a number of other clinical symptoms such as taste disturbances, seizures, sleep disturbances, epilepsy, hyperactivity, reduced attention span, and other symptoms. digestive system problems, frequent feelings of insecurity, restlessness, excessive anxiety. These manifestations not only affect the health but also have an adverse impact on the daily activities of young children, hindering the development and success in the future.
Currently, the rate of children with autism syndrome is increasing significantly and its effects are not small. Accordingly, the rate of autism occurrence between groups of people and each country will have different records. In the United States, it is estimated that 1 out of every 59 children born will have autism. In Asian countries, autism has not received much attention and there are still not many in-depth studies on this syndrome.
Is autism in children hereditary?
Over the decades, researchers, along with many parents around the world, have been searching for clues as to the reasons for the onset of autism in many children. However, until now, there has not been any clear conclusion about the specific cause of autism.
Accordingly, a number of studies and scientific evidences have shown that genetic factors, environmental factors or a combination of genes and environment are one of the leading causes of instability in human health. behavior and language of autistic children. In addition, there are also some reports that indicate that socio-economic conditions may also be a factor in increasing the risk of autism today.
Based on statistics, boys have a higher risk of autism than girls, the rate is 4 times higher. It is also because of this large difference and disparity between men and women that experts have more and more grounds to confirm the important role of genes in the pathogenesis of autism syndrome. Some theories say that the fact that females are less likely to develop autism than males is because females possess more genes (females have 2 X chromosomes and males have only 1 chromosome). X body).
In some specialized studies, it has been found that about 25% of cases of children with autism have identified genetic factors. Several other studies have shown that 5 to 15% of autistic cases have CNV genetic mutations or some non-CNV mutations in some genes involved in the transmission of brain function. nerve system.
Besides, many large-scale studies conducted on thousands of patients have found genetic factors and gene mutations related to autism syndrome. Among them, there are more than 100 genes, typically the SHANK3, NLGN4, DLG2, RN3C2, DYRK1A, SCN2A genes, etc., which are evaluated to increase the risk of developing autism symptoms.
In terms of the genetic mechanism of autism, it does not follow the Mendelian pattern of inheritance. That is, with single, recessive or dominant inheritance, children will receive each allele from their mother and father. In fact, there are many genetic mutations in children with autism that are not found in both parents or even identical twins.
More specifically, mutations can be found in many genes, not in a single type. Therefore, the pathogenesis of autism syndrome is assessed to be very complex and is not yet clearly understood. However, recently, many studies have been conducted to confirm the involvement of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of autism syndrome.
Based on a number of facts and statistics, it is found that autism is heritable, that is, it is related to genetic material (genes) and has the ability to be transmitted from life after life. Accordingly, experts found that children with a sibling who had previously had autism were 45 times more likely to develop this syndrome than normal.
In addition, a survey of families with children with autism found that most of their parents have some signs of this syndrome compared to parents of children without autism. . For example, these parents will often tend to live aloof from society, have deficits in communication skills, and lack social skills.
However, in reality, it is found that autism does not come from a single gene, but a whole sequence of genes. Therefore, it can be seen that each autistic child has different manifestations, some children have difficulties in communication, but there are also children who reveal hidden talents in a certain field. there.
Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cells and Gene Technology has conducted and completed the research project “Identifying genetic mutations in autistic children in Vietnam” and found that there are many known genes related to autism. to autism and most importantly, scientists have discovered a few new genes that are capable of making changes in children with autism.
This is considered an elaborate and large-scale study on the genes of children with autism in our country so far. The information obtained from this study is also considered a reliable scientific basis to serve well for screening, genetic counseling and autism treatment support in the future.
How to limit genetic risk in autism?
Although genetics is an important factor in the pathogenesis of autism, this is not a decisive factor, because not every case of a parent or relative with autism will also have autism. must have this syndrome. Besides genetics, there are many other risk factors that promote and develop the likelihood of symptoms of autism. Therefore, parents need to take comprehensive preventive measures, should not be subjective and only focus on responding to genetic factors.
In order to limit the influence of genetic factors in autism, parents also need to examine and review their medical history before deciding to get married and have children. This process both helps you to identify specific risk factors that can trigger autism and aims to provide effective preventive measures, avoiding the development of other health problems.
If a parent or family member has a history of autism, before planning to have a child, the couple should see a specialist for advice, discuss carefully about risk factors and give advice on how to treat autism. solutions, the most effective prevention. Besides, in order to limit and prevent the onset of autism in many young children to bring about good results, it is the duty of parents to take comprehensive measures.
As shared, autism is not only related to genetic factors but also can be influenced by environmental factors. Therefore, to be able to protect the health of young children, to prevent the risk of developing signs of autism in children, you need to note some of the following:
- Should have a specific birth plan, it is best to give priority to giving birth between 20 and 30 years old, this is the right time for both mother and baby. At the same time, it is necessary to limit the birth of children when they are too old, usually after the age of 40.
- During pregnancy, women should keep their spirits up, be happy, avoid stress and excessive pressure.
- During pregnancy, pregnant women must absolutely not arbitrarily use supportive drugs or treat them without the consent and specific instructions from a specialist doctor. If during this period, the body has health problems, it is necessary to conduct direct examination at reputable facilities and hospitals for timely support and intervention.
- Carry out regular antenatal check-ups to be able to monitor and promptly detect signs of instability during pregnancy.
Besides, after the newborn is born, if the child has abnormal signs and warning symptoms of autism in the first years of life, parents should quickly bring their children to the doctor as soon as possible. good. Being able to detect autism early at the age of 12 to 36 months will make an important contribution to improving efficiency, supporting children to recover functions and develop cognition, thinking and thinking. , effective language.
The information of the above article has helped readers answer the question “Is autism inherited?”. Although genetics is involved in this syndrome, it is not the only factor influencing the pathogenesis of autism. Therefore, parents need to have more comprehensive prevention and intervention measures for young children.
