Where It Rains, There's Autism.
Recent research reports suggest that children who live in rainier climates are at greater risk of developing autism than those who don't. According to US News & World Report, the study done by researchers at Cornell University have a number of hypotheses including that in rainier spots children stay indoors more and thus they are more likely to be exposed to whatever environmental toxins cause autism. Another possible correlation? Vitamin D deficiency. Or maybe watching too much TV or video games at too young an age when they can't run outside because it's raining cats and dogs.
But whatever the correlation and the conclusion of this study, the point is not to avoid living in places like Seattle, but to begin understanding which of these triggers exist in these places and don't in others in order to rule out certain environmental factors. At some point, the mystery of autism will be solved. Then we won't have to worry about living in moist climes being associated with childhood developmental disorders.
Summer Johnson, PhD
contribute a comment
Your contributions to the conversation are very much appreciated. We do have a few simple guidelines, though. Be civil. Stay on topic. We reserve the right to remove comments that violate the aforementioned guidelines. One more thing: comments are moderated, so it may take a little while for your comment to be posted. Thanks.
