Bingo... Boys outnumber girls 5-1. Because it is genetic! Thru the mother. Trust me, I don't like saying that as I am a mother of a little boy on the spectrum. My two girls have no autism. I also had genetic tests done on him and his mitochondrial numbers were waaaay off. They are now finding that there seems to be a direct or relation between mitochondria and autism. I did not get tested as it was not covered, but in mito disorders (not sure If it is all of them) the gene is passed from mother to child. Not thru father. Yeah I suck.

You doubt me? Go get any autistic child tested. Genes are from birth....they do not change. You are born this way. No it is not brain damage. Then Down syndrome is also. Duh.

Now the question is, what happened to me? My family has no history of autism....BUT my sisters son ALSO has autism....aspergers. Her daughter does not.

Yes, he has low vitamin d and low carnitine. I believe when I was tested I was low in vitamin d also. Still am today.

So what is the "trigger"? Vaccines could be in some children, and other environmental factors certainly.

From mayo clinic....
Genetic problems. Several genes appear to be involved in autism. Some may make a child more susceptible to the disorder. Others affect brain development or the way that brain cells communicate. Still others may determine the severity of symptoms. Each problem in genes may account for a small number of cases, but taken together, the influence of genes is likely substantial. Some genetic problems seem to be inherited, while others happen spontaneously.
Environmental factors. Researchers are currently exploring whether such factors as viral infections, complications during pregnancy and air pollutants play a role in triggering autism.