NEWS

Genes linked to autism in sequencing studies tend be located in long stretches of DNA that are duplicated or missing in some people with developmental conditions.

In autism research, as in other fields, small sample sizes can lead to false findings. The size of the sample needed for statistical significance depends on the type of study.

Autism is more heritable than anorexia, alcohol dependence, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to an analysis of data from nearly 4.5 million people.

Even undiagnosed siblings of children with autism tend to struggle with anxiety, depression and social difficulties.

Fragile X syndrome is a leading genetic cause of autism. People who have either condition often share certain traits, such as difficulties in social situations.

Traits linked to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tend to co-occur even in adulthood.

People who have a mutation linked to autism plus a second genetic glitch tend to have more severe symptoms than those with the mutation alone.

New biomedical techniques, like next-generation genome sequencing, are creating vast amounts of data and transforming the scientific landscape.

The accepted wisdom in autism research holds that early intervention offers the best promise for an autistic child’s well-being. But how effective are these therapies?

Genetic variants across the genome contribute to about 8 percent of the risk for certain developmental conditions — much more than previously thought.