Posted on 16/11/04
Autism linked to overactive immune system, study finds
Autism, a mysterious and increasingly common disorder, may be caused, at least in part, by a malfunction in the immune system, a new study suggests.Researchers studying the brains of people with autism say they have found strong evidence that parts of the immune system were overactive, causing chronic inflammation. This inflammation appears to cause damage to the brain in a manner similar to what is seen in other neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease). Autism is a brain disorder that appears in early childhood. The cause, or causes, are unknown, though immune reactions have long been suspected as playing a role.
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