An exciting Emerging Topic review published in Brain Medicine unveils compelling evidence linking air pollution exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to increased autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. The analysis highlights how specific pollutants trigger multiple pathogenic mechanisms, potentially disrupting crucial neurodevelopmental processes and increasing susceptibility to ASD, particularly in genetically predisposed individuals.

The timing of exposure appears crucial, with heightened vulnerability during prenatal development and early childhood when critical neurodevelopmental processes occur.

The research suggests that individuals with genetic predisposition to ASD may be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution exposure

The implications extend beyond individual health to public policy. How might cities need to adapt their urban planning to protect vulnerable populations? What role could air quality monitoring play in prenatal care?

Actually I don’t see why anything would be done to orevent development of autism, when not much was done for all the already known damage that actual urban development cause

  • SavvyWolf@pawb.socialEnglish
    0·
    1 month ago

    I’m of the opinion that a lot of the “problems” with autism come from societal issues and lack of education rather than an innate thing.

    Everyone has problems they need to work through. It’s just that autistic people don’t get the support they need.

    • rhombus@sh.itjust.works
      0·
      1 month ago

      As someone who struggles with it, you have absolutely no idea what the hell you’re talking about. Even if I had all the support in the world my life would still be struggle day in and day out, because it’s so much deeper than just being different. I understand why people try and make it seem that way, but it seriously minimizes what it actually is.

      • flicker@lemmy.world
        0·
        1 month ago

        My godson is low to mid functioning and people like the one you’re replying to don’t realize that they’re playing into the hands of people who want to cut help and financial aid for autism as a disability. “It’s not really a disability” is extremely harmful.

        But also I think society has done a great harm in hiding the most disabled among us. People hear autism and think some asshole on TV who plays as a savant. They don’t think of the 17-year-old man who can’t use the restroom and can only eat two food types despite years of therapy, who becomes violent if he can’t watch YouTube on demand.

        • howrar@lemmy.ca
          0·
          1 month ago

          On the flip side, there’s also the people who say that autism is nothing more than a disability that needs to be cured. This is probably what that they were referring to. Both extremes are harmful.

          • peppers_ghost@lemmy.mlEnglish
            0·
            1 month ago

            I would appreciate low functioning autism being cured. It is a hellish existence for a lot of people.

    • Droggelbecher@lemmy.world
      0·
      23 days ago

      Some, sure. But even a perfect society wouldn’t prevent me from crying when the sun shines in my face. It’s ok that some of us think of certain aspects of our autism as problems and for some of us to not think that.