Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction,communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.
Is associated with a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors during pregnancy include certain infections, such as rubella, toxins including valproic acid, alcohol, cocaine, pesticides, lead, and air pollution, fetal growth restriction, and autoimmune diseases.
Back in 2012 the first step was done in a mouse model study that tied the autism-related behaviors with immune changes. Several large epidemiological studies have found a correlation between viral infection during the first trimester of a mother's pregnancy and a higher risk for autism spectrum disorder in her child.
But this time researchers examine hummans brains and found that autism spectrum disorder could be an autoimmune disease.
"We haven't proved causality, but this is one clue in support of the idea that Autism might be an Autoimmune Disorder"...
Investigators typically aim potential treatments at specific pathologies in brain diseases, such as the tangles and plaques that characterize Alzheimer’s disease and the Lewy bodies seen in Parkinson’s. Researchers states that: "Until now, we didn't had a promising target like that in autism"