So, to summarize my theory on autism, I believe that Autism is the next step in human brain evolution, one which is not entirely random or based on “natural selection”, but is being nurtured by the widespread use of chemicals in our enviroment.

Laugh at me if you will… but at least follow me through some of the finer points that have led me to this belief. 

First of all, recent information has emerged suggesting (finally) that us humans haven’t stopped evolving.  It seems absurd to me that such a statement is a new idea… but there it is.  Not only have we not stopped evolving, but this evolution (changing of genes) may be responsible for a number of the modern diseases and mental health issues that plague our stressed health care system today.

Researchers are pointing to things like music, diet, even plate tectonics.  Our genes are mutating and adapting at an astonishing rate, partiularly in the area of our brains… their size and complexity:

“In 2005, University of Chicago geneticist Bruce Lahn reported that two “new” gene variations involved in brain size and complexity are still a work in progress. One emerged about 37,000 years ago and is now present in 70 per cent of humans; the other, only 5,800 years old, has spread to 30 per cent.”

Now, we know that Autistics have bigger brains, and that their brains work differently than most of us, particularly in their left/right brain functioning. 

We also know that Autistics are genetically different than the rest of us, and a new study suggests that not all of those genetic differences are being inherited… some are occuring “randomly”:

“In most cases, the abnormality on the chromosome was not inherited from a parent but occurred de novo, happening during embryonic development. This means the chances of having another child with autism may be closer to 5 percent, as opposed to 50 percent if the abnormality was inherited, the researchers explained.”

In fact, the same study claims to have found one of the genetic differences for 1% of the whole Autism population.

There have also been studies which suggest that the chemicals in our everyday environment are altering our genes.  A 2005 article from Duke University explains how:

“These startling scientific discoveries illuminate the emerging field of epigenetics, in which single nutrients, toxins, behaviors or environmental exposures of any sort can silence or activate a gene without altering its genetic code in any way. Rather, the environmental exposure triggers a chemical change in the body or brain that mobilizes a group of molecules – called a methyl group. The methyl group attaches to the control segment of a gene and either silences – or alternately activates – the gene. Either way, the gene veers off its intended course of activity.”

And we also know that children are the most susceptible to environmental toxins.

Funny thing, on the weekend I was talking to a friend of mine who is a hairdresser about shampoo.  She noted that baby shampoo is the worst for chemical additives and alkalines.  Then, serendipitously, a study emerges in the headlines yesterday about the potential danger of baby products like powders, shampoo and lotions because of the presence of phthalates.  So this morning I googled autism and phthalates and got 12,800 hits, including this little gem by Donna Williams.

So, here we have a product (baby shampoo) being directly applied to the permeable heads of our infants, to make them smell like a baby…

Now, it seems to me that baby products causing autism, is about as likely as the MMR vaccine being the single environmental trigger for autism gene activation… A notion that I hope we can finally stop pouring millions of dollars of research into after yet another study finds no reliable link between the two.  However the specific link between baby products, phthalates and autism is something that warrants new research directions… Not only that, but a possible class-action suit against Johnson and Johnson could be fun.  And if the new TV series Eli Stone is to be believed, parents of children with autism can win hail mary lawsuits if they play on the heartstrings of juries.

So… to tie this all together…

Chemicals alter genes, our genes alter our brains in size and comlexity, and people with autism have different genes and brains than those without it.  The rate of autism is so high now (and increasing by most accounts) that, unless we are facing a birth rate crisis in the next 50-100 years, the selective traits of autism genes related to brain functioning (visual learning, sensory sensitivity, literal language comprehension, difficulty reading social cues, diffuculty with face-to-face interaction) are going to become more and more predominant in the general population. 

Interesting that all of these traits are highlighted as problems with computer-mediated communication as well.

In any case, this is one serious crackpot theory