Autism: Overview
Autism affects 500,000 people in the United States. It is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. Autism is a brain disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate, form relationships, and respond to the environment.
Individuals can have mild, moderate or severe autism. Some people with autism are highly functional while others are mentally retarded, mute, or have severe problems with language.
It is generally accepted that autism is caused by abnormalities in brain structures or functions. About one-third of children with autism develop seizures, starting either in early childhood or adolescence.
At present, there is no cure for autism and the condition cannot be outgrown.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health are currently investigating claims that the administration of the mumps-measels-rubella vaccine may cause autism in young children. To date, a connection between autism and the vaccine is purely speculative.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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