possible cause of autism?

Paracetamol was not available in UK without a prescription until 1988, so it's highly unlikely the mothers of us older autists would have taken it while pregnant. So if it wasn't the cause of autism decades ago, how could it be increasing autism risk now?

There seems to be a lot of "clutching at straws" or trying to blame someone /something because autism rates are rising. Whereas the reason is that many of us were missed when we were kids because it wasn't understood then, and more kids now are being diagnosed due to better understanding.

Paracetamol is so widely available and so commonly used that I really wonder if this isn't a false connection. I think that ND has been around as long as our species has roamed the planet. It was only in the 1970's that autism was starting to be recognised and then it was thought to be rare and was only really recognised in those most severly affected.

It wasn't until into the 2000's that it was started to be recognised in women.

I think there have been all sort of social conventions and prejudices in previous generations for ND not to be recognised. With regard to women things like shyness, even extreme shyness, not looking people in the eyes, being unable to utter more than a few words to a stranger were desirable. These women would of been good marriage prospects in a patriarchal society, they wouldn't talk back and would most likely agree with thier husbands edicts and choices, wouldn't be out gagging about and would probably be modest in their dress sense. 

Those of us who wouldn't or couldn't abide by these strictures probably ended up at the bottom of society.

But we know ND people have super concentration and perserverence with a chosen subject, I wonder how many things were invented or improved by ND people? How many ND's chose to work with animals, as grooms, hound keepers, dairy maids etc, there were probably more jobs that didn't require a great amount of education, but a lot of knowlege in a particular area, something autists are renowned for.

Paracetamol is so widely available and so commonly used that I really wonder if this isn't a false connection. I think that ND has been around as long as our species has roamed the planet. It was only in the 1970's that autism was starting to be recognised and then it was thought to be rare and was only really recognised in those most severly affected.

It wasn't until into the 2000's that it was started to be recognised in women.

I think there have been all sort of social conventions and prejudices in previous generations for ND not to be recognised. With regard to women things like shyness, even extreme shyness, not looking people in the eyes, being unable to utter more than a few words to a stranger were desirable. These women would of been good marriage prospects in a patriarchal society, they wouldn't talk back and would most likely agree with thier husbands edicts and choices, wouldn't be out gagging about and would probably be modest in their dress sense. 

Those of us who wouldn't or couldn't abide by these strictures probably ended up at the bottom of society.

But we know ND people have super concentration and perserverence with a chosen subject, I wonder how many things were invented or improved by ND people? How many ND's chose to work with animals, as grooms, hound keepers, dairy maids etc, there were probably more jobs that didn't require a great amount of education, but a lot of knowlege in a particular area, something autists are renowned for.

We probably have to be careful not to over claim.

But it certainly does no harm to be obsessively focussed on a limited number of things and to view things slightly differently.

Perhaps it was easier in the past, the pace of things was slower, there were no bright lights and loud sounds, nature was closer.

It was harder to hide than it is in a modern town, so there was more support I think.

Regardless of time period though, it does seem to take its toll if you have no-one to stop you overdoing it.

I agree, Catwoman. Psychologists now think that many famous historical figures were probably autistic, looking at the records of their behaviour. Most of these were brilliant in their field of knowledge, such as Einstein, Newton, Michelangelo, Darwin, Beethoven & Mozart.

I found this interesting article which details their behavioural traits that are probably due to autism:

https://sciencesensei.com/39-famous-historical-figures-who-may-be-autistic-according-to-modern-psychologists/