What do TV, ultrasounds, insufficient vitamin D, air pollution, a mother having the flu while pregnant, mercury, have to do with each other?
All have been named as possible causes of autism. TK Kenyon looks at the puzzling spectrum of research into the cause of autism, some of which he labels as “just plain stupid”—the theory by economist Michael Waldman that tv causes autismautism causes tv—while others are “brilliant”—a 2006 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), about a genetic variant that disrupts the transcription of MET, a gene that is a tyrosine kinase receptor and …read more

Charlie has always had a big head—-this was apparent from the first time I saw his ultrasound image. It’s only been from looking over his baby and toddler photos that we’ve noted that, until he was around 5 or so, the top part of his head was really big. We always had to buy him bike helmets and hats that were big enough for Jim and me, it seemed.
Researchers at the University of Washington’s Autism Center are studying if accelerated head growth might be a biomarker for autism. Today’s Technology Review (MIT) reports on a new project under neuroscientist Eric …read more