How does a person inherit autism?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are among the most heritable of all neuropsychiatric conditions. Yet, most genetic links to ASD found in recent years have involved de novo mutations, which are not passed from parent to child, but instead arise spontaneously. read more

Scientists are not certain what causes autism, but it's likely that both genetics and environment play a role. The causes of autism may be divided into 'idiopathic', (of unknown cause) which is the majority of cases, and 'secondary,' in which a chromosome abnormality, single-gene disorder or environmental agent can be identified. read more

Autism can be inherited from parents with genes for autism. Autism can also be the result of the spontaneous mutation of a gene. It is suspected that a person with the genes for autism might need an environmental factor (in the womb or shortly after birth) to trigger the development of autism. read more