Autism is a confounding neurological disorder that affects an
estimated… (Aaron Ontiveroz / The Denver…) Autism is an
environmental illness -- at least in some cases. Just as lead
paint chips can cause learning disabilities and radon in the
basement can cause lung cancer, certain chemicals and other
outside influences seem to help set autism in motion. But autism
is also a genetic disease. It definitely runs in families, and
scientists have identified several specific genes that put kids
at risk. Scientists are trying to understand this complicated
push and pull that molds a growing brain. A new study of twins
published in the Archives of General Psychiatry makes a case
that the disease is about 60% environmental and 40% genetic.
Other experts quickly disputed the finding, claiming that genes
are the biggest driver of autism. This is one academic debate
that actually matters to real families. Like mine. My 9-year-old
son isn't severely autistic -- he has a strong vocabulary, he
can bravely tolerate hugs, and