To think more people do have autism nowadays?

I agree with this, however I suggest that the poster was referring to how many people now 'identify' as autistic without having a diagnosis, and in many cases that seems to suffice for them to get allowances made in the workplace for example.
There is a growing push to remove the need for diagnosis, because the 'person knows themselves best' and I have seen them some referring to diagnosis as 'gatekeeping' and 'steeped in patriarchial and medical colonialism'
That is a bit out on the fringes though.
Im not sure it helps those with severe autism in any way whatsoever, and as Ive said on previous threads in this subject, the framing of all autistic experiences as wonderful runs roughshod over those for whom do not find it a blessing, and who have seious struggles

No it isn’t it’s a disorder:-

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life.

There is plenty of evidence re it being genetic do much so it’s noted during diagnosis if you have other family members with it.

I believe it's genetic and can clearly see it in my dad and adhd in my Mum

My dd is autistic. She is very low physical care needs but has literally zero executive functioning. I have to ensure she eats, Gets to her work takes her meds. Clean her room etc. She is extremely clever and her creative skills are very high. However I don't think she will ever be able to work full time without burnout. Or at least without a very understanding employer. She works part time now and is happy after having to leave school early due to burnout.

I believe getting rid of the term Asperger's was a mistake. Ok, I get the reasons but it should be replaced with another title rather than Autistic being a massive umbrella. That doesn't serve the high intellectual people or the people with profound autism.
It also enables those that are shy or socially awkward or those that have special interests or hobbies to claim they are a little autistic.

I can say for sure that nearly everyone with autism is being let down by society and our govt right now.

What an absolutely ridiculous post highlighting ignorance re what is involved with autism diagnosis.

As a parent of a profoundly autistic child, I agree.

I've never noticed the 'older parents' bit and I know and have seen a lot of people who have it or seem to, from "Boomers" to this gen. A lot of them have younger parents actually ranging between 16years to 28years. Neither have I read it in any reputable scientific journal or article or research.

I've only seen a few people post about it on these sort of threads and only one person irl attribute it to vaccines.

National autistic society seem to think it's genetic.

The diagnosis has been broadened and now subsumes Asperger's syndrome.

It's now considered an identity rather than a disorder, and that increases the number of recognised cases.

There is very little evidence of biological factors, though older parents are more likely to have autistic children.

Yes @Supersimkin7 it's like the new OCD. Ooh I'm a little bit OCD me. Both are very misunderstood conditions. So frustrating!

The word autism has become a catch-all.

Older paternal and maternal age has been sighted as an increased risk factor. My B and SIL, both work in same highly skilled workplace filled with academic high achievers and have noted that a seemingly high number of their peers have autistic DC's ( there's also a high number of ND, people in the workforce).
People who have spent years studying, followed by establishing their careers, have DC's later in life.
I also suspect there is a higher proportion of ND people amongst high achieving groups as it takes a certain level of focus, (maybe to the point of obsession) to get to the top. Meanwhile, NT people can get distracted by social interactions leading to fun in other areas resulting in less focus, but probably a more well-balanced life.

Yeah but when you think about it logically, of course these things are going to impact brain development. They are literal poisons.

Spurious studies saying this that and the other means very little. Autism has always been around.

National Autistic Society

”Evidence suggests that autism may be genetic. Scientists have been attempting to identify which genes might be implicated in autism for some years. Autism is likely to have multiple genes responsible rather than a single gene. However, it is not caused by emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up.
There is no link between autism and vaccines. Much research has been devoted to this issue over the years and the results have comprehensively shown there is no link. Find out more on the NHS website.”

There's a lot of studies that now show autism can be caused during pregnancy by several factors, including, but not limited to: air pollution, medication and pesticides. Also, formula feeding.
There is more of this now in the world than previously.

No they haven’t. None of us have in our family.Genetics is the biggest factor, not all these random spurious studies.

ND here (adhd) and mum of 3 ND kids. My ex’s department at work was like the absolute distilled essence of autism, and yet there was not a diagnosis amongst any of them. Over 20 men (and Mad Sally) with all their quirks and ways of communicating (white board in the staff kitchen) and no one had ever been diagnosed.

HR in a cost saving exercise implemented a 2 days at home and 3 days in the office regime with hot desks and there were tears, and almost a riot. One guy stood next to “his” desk and refused point blank to move. The plan was scrapped but only for this department.

Would anyone like to guess which department this was?????

Heracles, Orlando Furioso, King Lear, Ophelia, Mrs Rochester, Kathy in Wuthering Heights, Mrs Danvers and Rebecca, the Woman in White, Mr Dorritt in Little Dorritt , Crime and Punishment and many more books explore the psyche of people. Diagnosing and treating it have just taken a long time to catch up. I’m north of 60 but remember the children in school (normal mainstream) that just couldn’t fit in. It’s good that diagnosis, although still quite hard to get, is getting better now…

I can't speak for my school friend, but most of the friends I've made as an adult are ND or have ND kids. We were drawn together by similar circumstances, mostly around our kids, but we also just click.

My DC are all Autistic, XH and I both have siblings who are probably autistic, I'm becoming more and more sure I have ADD, maybe Autism as well. Everyone I know with Autistic kids its somewhere in the family, often not diagnosed though. I know several people who have sought and got a diagnosis as an adult after their kids have been diagnosed. I know quite a few people in their late thirties to late forties who are probably Autistic and believe they are, but cant afford to seek a diagnosis or don't see the point of seeking one.

I think Autism and ADHD were massively under diagnosed in previous generations so we can't really say what's behind the increase in diagnoses. Of my 3 Autistic kids only one MIGHT have gotten a diagnosis 20 years ago, the other two certainly wouldn't have. There's no real way to work out historic levels of ND. You could look at current diagnoses in terms of if they'd have been diagnosed 20, 30, 40 years ago. Of the Autistic kids I know Id say it would be only a couple out of 20, 1 in 10 maybe. There's no way to know if that's representative. You could use family histories, but self reporting isnt terribly reliable.

I know a lot of Autistic kids, I know a lot of Autistic adults, but I don't think that's necessarily representive of the world at large. I'm connected to the wider ND community originally because of my kids, more so now because the people I get on best with seem to be ND, maybe mum's of ND kids share certain personality traits because of the genetic causes of Autism and ADHD, maybe we're all ND. I don't know the answer, but it's where i fit in.

Gut biome of C Section babies is very different from those born vaginally.
www.science.org/content/article/swabbing-c-section-babies-mom-s-microbes-can-restore-healthy-bacteria

People with ASD often have gut issues and tend to have a different gut biome to those who are NT

www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-50601-7

If not already undertaken, a study on prebiotics for CS babies could be an interesting study.

Totally agree with this!

Oh yes very familiar with the many MH issues (due to childhood trauma from being undiagnosed autistic) that add onto the autism that many people struggle with as adults.

I read somewhere that ND people are better able to find like minded partners through uni or work than in previous generations where you would marry in your own small community. They are more likely to have ND children. I think this applies to DH are I first generation Uni on both sides. Both our DC are diagnosed ND. We aren’t diagnosed but strongly suspect we are both autistic. School was brutal for both of us.

It's just more widely recognised now.