Autism Has No Single Cause. Here’s How We Know
6 hours ago
- #genetics
- #autism-research
- #healthcare-policy
- Autism was initially thought to be caused by 'refrigerator mothers' in the 1940s, but twin studies in the 1970s revealed it is highly heritable.
- Hundreds of genes are linked to autism, with 10-15% of cases involving new mutations and ~50% involving inherited gene variants.
- Environmental factors like parental age, premature birth, and prenatal conditions may influence autism risk, but evidence is often correlational.
- Vaccines and additives like thimerosal have been debunked as causes of autism, with studies showing no link.
- Autism likely arises from complex gene-environment interactions, making a single root cause improbable.
- Diagnostic criteria for autism have expanded, leading to increased diagnoses among girls, people of color, and adults.
- Autism research funding should shift toward improving daily support for autistic individuals rather than solely focusing on causes.
- Medicaid cuts threaten access to essential services for autistic individuals, particularly those with severe impairments.