Autism should not be seen as single condition with one cause, say scientists

5 comments

1. >And, while autism is defined by having challenges with social communication, sensory processing and restrictive behaviours, there is huge variability in how these difficulties present between individuals. Scientists have been looking at whether the population clusters into subgroups, with shared traits or trajectories, that could make studying autism more tractable.

   >The latest study used behavioural data from four birth cohorts, ranging from 89 to 188 people, and genetic data from two large studies, with more than 45,000 participants.

   >Previously, it was generally assumed that those diagnosed earlier tended to be those with more marked autistic traits, underpinned by people carrying a higher proportion of autism-linked gene variants. However, the latest study revealed a different pattern.

   >The analysis, [published in Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09542-6)*,* found that the underlying genetic profiles differed between those diagnosed with autism earlier and later in life, with only a modest overlap. The average genetic profile of later-diagnosed autism is closer to that of ADHD, as well as to mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD, than it is to autism diagnosed in early childhood.

   >Those diagnosed before the age of six years were more likely to be slow to walk and have difficulty interpreting hand gestures and tended to experience social and communication difficulties that appeared early but remained stable. Those diagnosed after the age of 10 years were more likely to experience an increase in difficulties during adolescence and, by late adolescence, presented with more severe challenges.

   >Prof Uta Frith, emeritus professor of cognitive development at University College London, who was not involved in the research, said: “It makes me hopeful that even more subgroups will come to light, and each will find an appropriate diagnostic label.

   >“It is time to realise that ‘autism’ has become a ragbag of different conditions.”

2. This article really feels like it’s trying to recreate the Asperger’s vs autism dichotomy and hand-wave away that using new terminology. Its a step away from Nazi propaganda.

3. This jives with my intuition about autism as well as ADHD.

   We have an *n*-dimensional trait space, with some clusters of neurotypes in some locations that get labeled with autism etc.

4. I hope we can eliminate “scientists say” as a source. Call out the institution and group who are conducting the research. Give people their flowers (this is not about op specifically).

   On subject as someone with an autistic kid in the fam yea, water is wet.

5. All I know is there’s almost no autism in the Amish community, yet up to 10% in males within some traditional American communities.

   I don’t buy the “better diagnosis” excuse one bit. It’s also not very common in Europe neither.

   There’s something in our food supply, I’m certain of it, that’s causing this. Sadly no government heads are willing to take this on, and the only one who has been willing, has been aggressively attacked by the left because of his stance on some issues means he’s completely unqualified… Thus I don’t think this issue will ever resolve. Whoever gets in charge next will be some industry insider who’s going to continue business as usual without any real fundamental challenge nor change.

   Our autism will still be the highest rate in the world and people will just complain about it because the left has purity tests where we have to always trust the science, even though clearly, somewhere, the science has a massive blindspot while others is bought and paid for.

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