Would that mean that reducing heavy metal exposure would improve mental function? I've had 2 hair anaylses in the last year. The first showed high exposure to copper and a few other metals. I changed my water source (dont drink tap water, we have our water delivered), and moved house. The second test showed low heavy metal exposure.

I still have ADD. I cannot objectively tell you if it has improved or not. The stressors of my last year would probably affect anyone's mental function.

There is ASD in both sides of my family. I am sure my dad is undiagnosed Aspergers. I have an autistic second cousin on my maternal side. So there may be a genetic link.

Maybe there's something in all the plastics we've been exposed to in the past few generations that has increased the incidences of ASD.

Other theories I've read include ASD being correlated to the increased use of prenatal ultrasound and increased cord clamping. Both have increased in the last 30 years, along with ASD rates.

I've recently started researching the importance of gut health on the brain. Perhaps the change in diets have affected things as well. Maybe a number of things together have blended into a perfect storm.

btw - my ADD was diagnosed at the age of 36, which apparently is pretty normal for females of my generation.