Environmental Causes and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Povijest poremećaja iz spektra autizma, iako je relativno kratka, predmet je brojnih istraživanja. Mnoga pitanja koja su proizašla iz istraživanja i rada s djecom s PSA su odgovorena, no pitanje uzroka i dalje intrigira mnoge stručnjake koji se bave navedenim poremećajem. Tijekom posljednjeg desetljeća fokus mnogih istraţivanja bio je usmjeren na istraživanje genetske podloge poremećaja iz spektra autizma. Iako je genetika vrlo važna u definiranju i razumijevanju etiologije PSA, nije moguće pružiti sveobuhvatno objašnjenje poremećaja na temelju genetskih istraživanja. Fokus istraživanja se stoga preusmjerio na okolinske uzroke. Okolinski čimbenici igraju važnu, no često krivo interpretiranu ulogu. Posebno roditelji tijekom procesa suočavanja s činjenicom da njihovo dijete ima PSA tragaju za uzrocima i nerijetko prihvaćaju i zagovaraju teorije koje nisu nužno potkrijepljene rezultatima znanstvenih istraživanja. S obzirom da su danas upravo neutemeljeni uzroci PSA često prisutni u medijima, čitav pogled na okolinske uzroke i povezana istraživanja je usmjeren kroz prizmu skepticizma. Termin „okolinski uzroci“ odnosi se na bilo koji čimbenik koji može utjecati na nastanak PSA, a da ne obuhvaća genetske čimbenike. Cilj ovog preglednog rada je pružiti strukturirani pregled dosadašnjih istraživanja te istaknuti moguću ulogu i značaj raznih okolinskih čimbenika u nastanku poremećaja iz spektra autizma. Identificiranje okolinskih čimbenika koji utječu na rizik za nastanak PSA ima veliki potencijal za otvaranje puta promjenama u shvaćanju i pristupanju poremećaju. Okolina je čimbenik na koji možemo utjecati, a to posljedično omogućava značajan napredak u prevenciji PSA. Istaknute su mnoge teorije i okolinski čimbenici koji prema suvremenim istraživanjima imaju značajnu ulogu u nastanku poremećaja iz spektra autizma, ali i mehanizam utjecaja tih čimbenika. Završno, pružen je kritički osvrt na teorije okolinskih čimbenika koje objašnjavaju poremećaj iz spektra autizma.The history of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although relatively short, is the subject of numerous studies. Many of the issues arising from the research and work with children with ASD are answered, but the question of cause still intrigues many experts in the field of ASD. During the last decade the focus of many studies was placed on genetic causes of autism spectrum disorders. Although genetics is very important in defining and understanding the etiology of ASD, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive explanation of the disorder on the basis of genetic research. The focus of research is therefore shifted to environmental causes. Environmental factors play an important role but they are often wrongly interpretated. Especially during the process of dealing with the fact that their child has a diagnosis of ASD, parents search for causes and often accept and advocate for theories that are not necessarily supported by the results of scientific research. Given that unfounded causes of ASD are often present in the media today, the whole view of environmental causes and related research is viewed through the prism of skepticism. The term "environmental causes" refers to any factor which may affect the development of ASD, but that does not include genetic factors. The aim of this paper is to provide a structured overview of current studies and highlight the possible role and importance of various environmental factors in the occurrence of autism spectrum disorders. Identifying environmental factors that affect the risk of ASD has great potential to open the way to changes in the perception of and accession to the disorder. The environment is a factor that can be altered and that consequently provides a significant improvement in the prevention of ASD. Many theories and environmental factors that by current research have an important role in autism spectrum disorders are highlighted, as also the mechanism of the influence of these factors. Finally, a critical review of the theories of environmental factors that explain autism spectrum disorders is provided