For many years, the research on autism has been focused on the role of genes – and looking for that single “autism gene” that may be causing the condition. But as Dr. Herbert points out, genes don’t function in a vacuum – they interact with proteins and other chemicals in the body – and with chemicals that enter the body from our environment that aren’t supposed to be there.
Dr. Martha Herbert is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and a Pediatric Neurologist and Neuroscientist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Visit her website at MarthaHerbert.org.