The variants are associated with slight differences in measures of intelligence, income and employment, but the relationship may not be causal.

Mice and zebrafish missing the GIGYF1 gene show social traits reminiscent of autism, though the molecular underpinnings are unclear.

Chung, a clinical and molecular geneticist, plans to continue serving as principal investigator of two large research projects involving cohorts of people with autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.

The measure breaks the behaviors down into eight distinct subdomains — categorization that could prove useful for clinical trials, its creator says.

The rare variants are also linked to ADHD and Tourette syndrome, two other conditions that disproportionately affect boys and men.

Mood, anxiety, personality and eating disorders more commonly affect autistic people diagnosed in adulthood than those diagnosed in childhood.

The co-occurring conditions may stem from the heightened stress people in minority communities experience.