Autism involves a gender factor, i.e., it affects males about four times more than females. Autism often occurs in conjunction with a family history of autoimmune diseases, e.g., multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Autism also involves hormonal factors, e.g., secretin, beta-endorphin, etc. Autism shows an association with infectious agents, in particular viruses. Autistic patients have immune abnormalities, especially those that characterize an autoimmune reaction in a disease.
Autistic patients respond well to immune therapies.
Viral Studies in Autism Viruses have been linked to autism, but this relationship is far from fully explored. Certain viral infections can easily be acquired during fetal life, infancy or early childhood. They can enter the brain through the nasopharyngeal membranes or induce an autoimmune response against the brain, thereby altering the development of brain function. Moreover, several autistic children did not produce antibodies to rubella vaccine even after the repeated rubella immunization. Although the reason for this problem has never been investigated, I think this is due to a defect in T lymphocytes these agents of immune response are not functioning properly in these children.