I have been studying the autism issue as well and I would agree very strongly with the replies you have received. There appears to be a tipping point with possibly a genetic component. There has been a lot of focus on the MMR vaccine, and that may be a biggie, but I think any vaccine can be the tipping point depending on the toxicity of the child. I believe even an unvaccinated child could have autism due to severe toxicity in utero. The Amish have very few cases of autism which I believe shows a strong correlation with vaccines as they are typically not vaccinated. Perhaps those few cases are children who were toxic enough even without the vaccines to cause a problem. I think that mercury is the prime offender but that other toxins may play a role either on their own or in combination with mercury. I believe that ADD and ADHD are related to autism - perhaps a lesser degree of toxicity or perhaps reaching the tipping point at a later age when there has already been more significant brain development. I have two autistic spectrum nephews on my husband's side (one with Aspergers). Both of the their mothers have silver fillings and one of them has had candida issues since she was 16. Her first boy is healthy, but her second has Aspergers. She chose not to vaccinate her third, and she is healthy. Why was the second son affected while the others are not? Perhaps his mother was more toxic, perhaps she had dental work done while pregnant, perhaps she ate more fish, perhaps he was exposed to more lead in toys. It is hard to say what exactly made the difference. But I do think her youngest was saved from health problems by her decision not to vaccinate her. I also agree that candida and other gut issues play a starring role in autism. One of those two nephews came to visit recently and I discovered that he has chronic constipation, heartburn, and other gastrointestinal problems. Antibiotics may play a role - you could have two children with the same exact toxic load and if one has several rounds of antibiotics as a baby - perhaps that could make the difference - the antibiotics altering the gut flora and causing more severe candida issues - yet, another strain on the immune system. I know in my own experience with mercury toxicity, each round of antibiotics (which is what the doctors used initially with every mercury symptom I had) caused a marked decline in my health. I had a long list of symptoms, but something I didn't even realize at the time was that I was having difficulty finding words and frequently losing my train of thought. I thought I was just distracted by my three boys, but that has really gone away since I had my fillings out. I am calling them by their proper names the first time. None of my boys are autistic, but they all have some minor focus issues and difficulty staying on task at school. My youngest has developed food allergies, has frequent gastritis, and is carbohydrate intolerant. He has hand tremors and some minor hyperactivity which seems to come on when he has gastrointestinal problems. I believe I had an amalgam filling removed when I was pregnant with him (and I had major mercury toxicity symptoms during the last few months of my pregnancy). He then had his first round of antibiotics at one month old (apparently if a baby under two months develops a fever it is standard to do a spinal tap and treat with antibiotics for meningitis - which he did not have). I believe all of this played a role in his health problems.

I would agree too that the high cholesterol is probably the symptom rather than the cause. I do find it curious though that they all have high cholesterol since they are adopted - are they all adopted from different mothers? Were they all adopted at birth? If so, I wonder if there is some common toxic exposure at home that would cause raised cholesterol levels. My two nephews on the autism spectrum do not have high cholesterol levels, but my brother's two children (who are extremely well focused and above grade level performers) do have elevated cholesterol levels. I read a great book called 'Detoxify or Die' by Dr. Sherry Rogers that started me on my path to regaining my health. I believe that she wrote about raised cholesterol levels due to pesticide exposure (among other possibilities). I am looking into this as my brother has monthly pest control in his home.

I don't think there is an easy answer to the why's, but you are on the right track for your children by seeking out answers. Best of luck to you all.