Does Rubella Cause Autism: A 2015 Reappraisal?

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Stella Chess's 1970s research noted a high prevalence of autism in children with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
• This historical finding is often cited to support the theory linking maternal infection during pregnancy to autism.
• Despite the notion of rubella eradication, many autistic children exhibit CRS-like symptoms, including deafness and heart defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential association between rubella virus infection and autism.
• To explore shared clinical and neuropathological findings between CRS and autism.
• To re-evaluate the current status of rubella prevalence and its potential impact on autism risk.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of clinical manifestations, including neurological and developmental outcomes.
• Review of neuropathological and neuroradiological findings in both CRS and autism.
• Examination of immune system markers, such as antibody levels, in affected individuals.

Main Results:

• Significant overlap observed in symptoms like hyperactivity, spasticity, deafness, and visual changes between CRS and autism.
• Similar neuropathological findings, including cerebral vasculitis, leukomalacia, and dilated perivascular spaces, noted in both conditions.
• Shared risk for type 1 diabetes and comparable brain perfusion deficits identified.

Conclusions:

• Numerous shared characteristics strongly suggest a probable association between rubella virus and autism.
• Rubella remains a global health concern, affecting pregnant women and potentially contributing to autism, even in vaccinated populations.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the rubella-autism link.