What Causes Autism?

By shirley

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Autism Spectrum Disorder Fact Sheet.' _National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke_, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Autism-Spectrum-Disorder-Fact-Sheet#3082 5.
• 2. 'What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?' _Centers for Disease Control and Prevention_, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Mar. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html.
• 3. 'Autism Causes.' _Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)_, 2 Oct. 2019, www.autismcenter.org/autism-causes.
• 4. 'What Causes Autism?' _Autism Speaks_, www.autismspeaks.org/what-causes-autism.
• 5. 'Autism Causes.' _Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)_, 2 Oct. 2019, www.autismcenter.org/autism-causes.
• 6. 'Large Study on Parent Age & Autism Finds Increased Risk with Teen Moms.' _Autism Speaks_, www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/large-study-parent-age-autism-finds-increased-risk-teen-moms.
• 7. Gardener, Hannah, et al. 'Prenatal Risk Factors for Autism: Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.' _The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science_, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712619/.
• 8. 'Key Findings: Autism Is Associated with Amount of Time Between Births._' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention_, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Aug. 2019, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/features/time-between-births.html.
• 9. 'Key Findings: Opioids Prescribed Just Before Pregnancy Associated With Autism.' _Centers for Disease Control and Prevention_, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Aug. 2019, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/features/kf-opioids-pregnancy-autism.html.
• 10. 'Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Outlook.' _Cleveland Clinic_, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8855-autism.
• 11. 'Autism Spectrum Disorder.' _Mayo Clinic_, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928.
• 12. 'Autism.' _National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences_, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autism/index.cfm.

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8. Gender

A child’s gender appears to play a role in the development of autism. The disorder occurs four times more often in boys than in girls.¹¹‘Autism Spectrum Disorder.’ Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928.

One out of every 68 children has autism.¹‘Autism Spectrum Disorder Fact Sheet.’ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Autism-Spectrum-Disorder-Fact-Sheet#3082 5. The disorder is present in people of all races and ethnicities as well as in all socioeconomic groups.²‘What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Mar. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html. As of 2017, autism was present in 2.21 percent of the U.S. population, and the incidence of the disorder was on the uptick.¹⁰‘Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Outlook.’ Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8855-autism.