Today, Yahoo! news had an interesting article about scientists discovering recently a genetic/chromosomal marker that may explain why 4 out of 5 autism-affected individuals are male, and what the mysterious cause – or causes – of autism spectrum disorders may be.

Nerve cells in the brain rely on calcium to become activated, and research suggests that imbalances in the mineral can result in the overstimulation of neural connections and create developmental problems, such as autism and even epilepsy, which is also a common feature of autism…

It’s likely not only that a large number of genes contribute to the disorder, but also that a different combination of genes – as well as unique interactions between genes and environment – are responsible for each individual case of autism.

This makes a lot of sense to me. I’ve read the theory that people believe autism isn’t a singular condition but a sort of pool of conditions all on the same spectrum, and that “autism” is merely an umbrella. There are women on the spectrum in my family, but it has affected the men much more markedly. The language and scientific jargon in the article is a bit much to wade through, but it’s a worthwhile insight into the forefront of autism research, especially the tiny sliver of light at the end of the tunnel offered at the end.