Exactly why autism happens isn’t clear. It could stem from problems in parts of your brain that interpret sensory input and process language.
Autism can happen in people of any race, ethnicity, or social background. Family income, lifestyle, or educational level doesn’t affect a child’s risk of autism. But there are some risk factors:
Is autism genetic?
Autism runs in families, so certain combinations of genes may increase a child’s risk. Changes in more than 1,000 genes may be linked to autism. But not all of them are confirmed by experts. Genetic factors can affect someone’s risk of autism anywhere from 40% to 80%.
Your overall risk depends on the combination of your genes, environment, your parents’ age, and any birth complications.
A rare gene mutation or chromosome issue is likely to be the sole cause of about 2% to 4% of people with autism. This tends to happen in conditions that also affect other parts of the body, like with mutations in the ADNP gene. With ADNP syndrome, a person will show signs of autism as well as have specific facial features.
Many of the genes that are involved in autism are related to brain development. This may be why autism symptoms tend to involve issues with communication, cognitive functioning, or socialization.
Vaccines and autism
Vaccines don’t cause autism. Even though some people have concerns that they do, studies have shown that there is no link between the two. Experts have reviewed the safety of eight vaccines for children and adults. They found that they’re very safe, despite rare exceptions. Other studies have looked at the ingredients of different vaccines and found no link to autism. The health benefits of vaccines in preventing diseases far outweigh any potential risks.
