"Genetics Plays Outsized Role In Autism, Large Study Shows" -Nicholette Zeliadt
Autism is more heritable than anorexia, alcohol dependence, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to an analysis of data from nearly 4.5 million people. At 64 percent, its heritability is similar to that of schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder, the new study shows. The estimate for autism is in line with results from twin studies. Those studies show that identical twins, which have nearly identical DNA, are more likely than fraternal twins to both have autism. “It’s reassuring,” said Sven Sandin, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who was not involved in the study. “We see again the heritability for autism is especially high, and it’s in the same range where we have estimated earlier.”
- Sven Sandin, PhD, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai