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Original poster

To just remind you that autism is genetic?

261 replies

robotgun · 02/07/2024 16:05

Research tells us that 60 to 90% of the risk for autism comes from your genome. Maternal and paternal age are also a significant factor. Also genetic variants exist that cause autism-like behaviours and go undiagnosed because we don't routinely run genetic tests on our children. We also don't routinely institutionalise children that are different to their peers.

There's 'more' autism because people are having babies at older ages. And we are better at spotting autism.

It isn't heavy metals, microplastics, or the MMR.

Sorry, but it seems like every day I open this app and there's a new post saying 'What's going on with all this autism around, eh?' and a slew of replies blaming environmental factors that have no science behind them whatsoever. Or, worse, blaming mothers for reproducing too late in life or eating tuna in pregnancy or taking prescribed meds.

If you see enough of these threads every day you could well start to believe the nonsense that people write, much like people that read the Daily Mail every day start to believe that Meghan Markle is the devil.

Autism has always been here. It's not better or worse than it used to be.

OP posts:
TomeTome · 02/07/2024 16:23

What on earth do you mean by “Research tells us that 60 to 90% of the risk for autism comes from your genome.” ? What is your understanding of that statement? What research by whom? If it’s correct what about the 10 to 40% that doesn’t? Where does that “come from”?

Tomnooktoldmeto · 02/07/2024 16:23

As you quite rightly point out, it’s generally genetic

Our family is a good example, father in law was obviously autistic but undiagnosed and had 2 sons. Both sons had 2 DC all 4 are now diagnosed ND. Of the back of this DH was assessed and also diagnosed

For years what was referred to as the Bloggs family temperament was actually high functioning autism. They are all intelligent individuals with good careers and degrees but most definitely autistic

We actually live in an area where due to the local employer there are lots of what would previously be called Aspies, during the school years they all gravitated towards each other and you could guess which kids would end up with the diagnosis (and did)

The CAMHS specialist who diagnosed one of mine actually called it ‘company name’ disease in jest because of it’s historical link

BlackeyedSusan · 02/07/2024 16:22

Possibly autistic mothers and autistic fathers reproduce later in life....

fieldsofbutterflies · 02/07/2024 16:22

behindthemall · 02/07/2024 16:08

Your post says there is more autism, then that there isn’t. Then ages of parents increase prevalence, but it’s wrong to attribute an increase to “mothers reproducing too late in life”.

So I’m not really sure what your point is.

No, she said there was "more" autism - as in, there appears to be more of it because we know more about it, and are diagnosing it more than we did in the past.

CuriousGeorge80 · 02/07/2024 16:20

To be fair OP, your post is a bit unclear - are you saying maternal age is relevant or not?

Butchyrestingface · 02/07/2024 16:20

Or, worse, blaming mothers for reproducing too late

But you yourself said that maternal and paternal age is a significant risk factor (didn't you?)

LiterallyOnFire · 02/07/2024 16:17

Amen.

Original poster
robotgun · 02/07/2024 16:17

BoobyDazzler · 02/07/2024 16:13

I’ve literally never seen anyone say most of the stuff you’ve claimed to see with the expecting perhaps of vaccine damage concern in the Andrew Wakefield era.

You haven't been reading the same threads as me then.

OP posts:
BoobyDazzler · 02/07/2024 16:13

I’ve literally never seen anyone say most of the stuff you’ve claimed to see with the expecting perhaps of vaccine damage concern in the Andrew Wakefield era.

Original poster
robotgun · 02/07/2024 16:10

behindthemall · 02/07/2024 16:08

Your post says there is more autism, then that there isn’t. Then ages of parents increase prevalence, but it’s wrong to attribute an increase to “mothers reproducing too late in life”.

So I’m not really sure what your point is.

Did you not note the inverted commas?

OP posts:
behindthemall · 02/07/2024 16:08

Your post says there is more autism, then that there isn’t. Then ages of parents increase prevalence, but it’s wrong to attribute an increase to “mothers reproducing too late in life”.

So I’m not really sure what your point is.

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