Parents with mental disorders more likely to have autistic children

Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by multigene interactions or by rare mutations with major effects.

A new study claims that parents of autistic children are almost twice as likely to have mental disorders than other mothers and fathers. Or, in other words, parents with disorders are twice as likely to have a child diagnosed with autism.

The most common disorders are: schizophrenia, depression and personality disorders.

Researchers analyzed hospital records in Sweden and looked at 1,237 children born between 1977 and 2003 who were diagnosed with autism before the age of 10. Then the results were compared against control sample considering gender, the year of birth and hospital.

Autism impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old.

The study provides the scientific world with substantial material to unearth true reasons of this brain development disorder.

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