Other autism theories

While the belief that the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal is responsible for the rise in autism over the past decade is gaining popularity, there are other theories about the increase.

Some people think the increase is due to more awareness among doctors, who are consequently diagnosing the disorder more frequently now.

Others say the autism diagnoses may not be accurate.

For instance, deficiencies such as Landau Kleffner Syndrome, a form of childhood epilepsy, and Mitochondrial Disease, a potentially fatal cell abnormality, have symptoms similar to that of autism.