"What Causes Autism? It’s 83 Percent Genetic, Study Says" -
For a condition as complex as autism, it’s almost certain that both genes and environment play an important role. But teasing apart how much DNA contributes to the developmental condition and how much is due to environmental exposures remains a subject of much debate. In a study publish in JAMA, researchers said they have come up with the most accurate figure to date for the role that genes play in autism. Led by Sven Sandin, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the scientists re-analyzed existing data from all children born in Sweden between 1982 and 2006. The team had looked at the same data previously, focusing on pairs of siblings, both of whom were diagnosed with autism. But this time, they applied a different method for tracking the diagnosis. When Dr. Sandin tracked autism diagnoses over time among the sibling pairs, he found that genetics likely accounts for 83 percent of the disorder. Using the new model, environmental factors probably contribute around 17 percent to the risk of developing autism. “This is why it is important to have different study designs,” said Dr. Sandin.
- Sven Sandin, PhD, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai