The sudden change points to an environmental change that occurred around the world at nearly the same time as each other.
I tried following the data from that graph, and one question I had has an answer on that site, but I can't find the source:
Repeated DDS studies show this surge is not due to broadening of criteria, better ascertainment or greater awareness, but rather to an actual increase in the numbers of persons with substantially disabling abnormal neurodevelopment that manifests, at least in part, in significantly impaired communication, social functioning, and repetitive behaviors.
I'm specifically looking for the multiple DDS studies. I looked through the report and didn't immediately see any references.
I don't understand why both can't be true? I've seen a lot of different ailments get clarity, and thus more people are properly categorized, or no longer ignored. Maybe the data pins on the word 'surge' in that it is still true, but the biggest part was from something else. Either way, I'd love to read the research, data and reasoning behind it.
It seems there are multiple different distinct things that can end up with a result of ADS, so maybe this is really specific subgroup.
But one thing that rings true for me is the notion of the interaction of the immune system. The research related to
myelin related mutations feels related. Maybe the remote connections between brain regions have longer axions and thus having proper myelin sheathing to allow faster/efficient are more critical? Some have mutations that cause issues, some have immune responses that impact it. And probably other signaling aspects that would also cause an issue.
Some
studies talking about the immune system being compromised and its relation to compromising this may relate? In some cases a
viral infection starts the chain of events. Seems like maybe there are two sides, one in which the immune system is not working properly and the virus persists. And one where there is a reaction to a virus, it is eliminated, but some loop persists in the immune response that continues.
If in the end a specific environmental thing results in some excessive immune response, then it would easy to test. Is there research around this? Finding a child with unusual levels with no source I would think would be more common?
There are a lot of things in society that rapidly changed in these decades. Even if one could say it is linked to vaccinations, the truth is if this is the issue, I imagine it would be one of many different resulting with the same cause. If all it takes is proper detection at the right phase of life, maybe there are some (anti-viral?) options that would have real meaningful impact at the right time of development?