Autism, Mental Illness, and Civilization

Humanity stands at an uneasy crossroads. Autism and mental illness surge relentlessly into public awareness, generating fear, compassion, and endless speculation. Have these conditions always silently accompanied humanity, invisible in the historical shadows? Or is modern civilization itself—our processed foods, sedentary routines, and instant conveniences—slowly poisoning our neurological health? Perhaps, more radically, we misunderstand entirely, and autism signifies a leap toward evolution, a glimpse of future human potential.

Each perspective challenges society’s comfortable assumptions. Each raises questions without easy answers. Yet, all point toward an undeniable truth: our lifestyles, from the food we eat to the exercise we neglect, profoundly shape the contours of our minds. If we are brave enough to listen, perhaps these conditions, once stigmatized, might reveal not illness, but humanity’s deeper, hidden strengths—or a warning we can no longer ignore.