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What causes autism and cures

What causes autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects someone from birth but research has yet to pinpoint its exact cause.

Current evidence suggests that autism may be caused by a variety of factors that affect the way the brain develops, including genetic and environmental factors.

 

Is there a 'cure' for autism?

There is no cure for autism. Autism can present many challenges but there are many approaches and forms of support that can help transform lives. 

It’s critical that we protect autistic people from harmful or illegal interventions.

 

Autism and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine

In the 1990s, a theory emerged that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine caused autism. This idea was based on fraudulent findings put forward by Andrew Wakefield. Following an investigation into that study, Wakefield’s research was withdrawn and he has been banned from practising medicine in the UK.

His theory has been consistently disproved over the past decades, yet significant damage has been done with some parents not vaccinating their children, which puts them - and all of us - more at risk of catching potentially fatal diseases.

 

Further information on autism research

Autistica