2. Etiologies and the Brain
Diverse unrelated genetic conditions
Prenatal rubella infection
Prenatal exposure to valproic acid
Prenatal exposure to alcohol
Complications in childbirth
1 - Autism's multiple etiologies
2 - Perinatal complications
3 - Childbirth protocols
4 - Outcome after asphyxia at birth
5 - Mercury, bilirubin, and the blood-brain barrier
What systems in the brain are affected by all known etiologies?
Oxygen insufficiency at birth can damage brainstem auditory nuclei
essential for maturation of the language areas of the cerebral cortex.
The tradition of waiting for the first breath before clamping the umbilical cord
has been replaced by a protocol to clamp the cord immediately at birth.
Recent research is revealing the dangers of clamping the cord too soon.
How well informed are most women about obstetric protocols?
Damage of brainstem auditory nuclei was found in monkeys subjected to
asphyxia at birth, and maturation of the cerebral cortex was disrupted
Asphyxia damages the blood-brain barrier thus allowing passage of toxic
substances that would normally excluded.