Unraveling mystery of autism proves elusive

Researchers are spending more time and money seeking clues to the mysterious brain disorder called autism.

The National Institutes of Health is expected to spend $102 million for autism research this year — a five-fold increase in six years.

"We have many more questions than answers right now," says research psychiatrist and neuroscientist Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health and head of an interagency federal panel on autism.

With its characteristic language delays and aloof behavior, autism may not be observed until children are 18 months or older. Often, it is not diagnosed until age 5. There is no cure.

Insel says autism might in fact be "many different illnesses with one name," which would account for the array of symptoms, varied times of diagnoses and different strands of autistic behavior. "These are urgent questions because we're talking about a lot of children and a tremendously disabling brain disease, which really robs a child and a family of the personhood of this child," Insel says.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a campaign to increase awareness about the need for early diagnosis. Early diagnosis and intervention is considered critical to improve the outlook for children diagnosed with the disease.

Although much about autism remains a mystery, Eric Hollander, a physician and director of the Seaver Center for Autism Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, says a lot more is known now than even five years ago.

"Now we know more about basic brain circuits and genetics and about which treatments work and don't work," he says. "There are a number of well-controlled studies going on now. Until recently, there was not much funded research in this area."

What is known, from research on identical and fraternal twins, is that there is a strong genetic link, Hollander says. No single gene has a major effect on the development of the disease. Instead, he says, it's more likely that several genes have minor effects.

Gastroenterologist Andy Wakefield, who moved from London to Austin to head a new autism center, also has drawn attention for his theories about an intestinal disease that he believes produces brain-injuring chemicals in certain children.

Wakefield, of Thoughtful House Center for Children, believes a wheat-free and dairy-free diet will improve functioning for autistic children. He wants Jeanette and Patrick O'Donnell and their five autistic kids to try it to lessen symptoms.