Scientific brain linked to autism
 

Highly analytical couples, such as scientists, may be more likely to produce children with autism, an expert has argued.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, of the University of Cambridge, said the phenomenon may help explain the recent rise in diagnoses.

He believes the genes which make some analytical may also impair their social and communication skills.

A weakness in these areas is the key characteristic of autism.

...more...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4661402.stm

There was some chatter about an autism hotspot around Silicon Valley. Folks were speculating that analytical folks are drawn to the same and may increase their chances of having a child with autism. shrug

Hm. I'd like to hear the opinion of a scientific-minded parent of an autistic child on this.

Don't a lot of folks in silicon valley work around some very nasty chemicals? How about Brick Township, NJ? Lots of smart people or lots of chemicals?

Everyone wants a simple answer, but if it were simple we'd have it by now.

It brings Asbergers' to mind.

[conspiracy] Unless having the answer would cost important people lots of money. [/theory]

Yep, it is possible.

I can't really say that there is anything to that theory. It's true that some Autistic children have parents with scientific or even Aspergers traits, at my son's school the parents are very diverse in background and temprement. I've always felt that I had some mild Aspergers traits, but I've never been diagnosed with it.

I have heard about Autism hot spots around certain types of factories, etc.

It's hard to track since someone would need to keep a database of the child's whereabouts from conception through 4-5 years. I doubt the government would want that study, since they might not like the answer.

I'm still not sure if Autism is genetic, environmental, or a combination of the two.

The bay is sorta a hot spot for that but it doesn't mean anything. Marin County has a large amount of breast cancer. Is it environmental or is it because a certain type of people like the lifestyle / climate there? Once again, no easy answer.