In a new study, researchers have discovered the first common genetic risk variants for autism.
They also for the first time found genetic differences in different types of autism.
The research was conducted by researchers from the Danish project iPSYCH and the Broad Institute.
Autism is not a new phenomenon, and it refers to a very mixed group with different disorders.
For example, some autism patients have very pervasive developmental disorders with mental retardation. But other patients may have healthy brain functions with a normal or high IQ.
Researchers have been trying to find its cause of autism.
One factor has long been established that genes play an important role in autism. It is estimated that there is a heredity factor of up to 80%.
However, finding precisely which genes are involved has been very challenging, despite many years of hard work.
Previous studies have shown that there are very few genetic variants that carry a high risk for autism, but they cannot explain many cases of autism.
In the current study, the team examined the genomes of 20,415 people with autism and 174,280 healthy people. They examined all the approximately 9 million frequent variants.
They also compared the genetic risk variants with the genes’ expression and the 3-D structure of the genome in the developing brain.
The researchers found that five genetic variants increase the risk of autism.
These risk genes are important for the development of the brain, especially the development of the cerebral cortex.
These genetic variants are common in the population at large. Each individual genetic variant contributes to the risk in a very small amount.
Importantly, the researchers also found a big overlap between the genetic risk for autism and other mental diseases like depression and schizophrenia.
The findings suggest that there are common variants that cause autism when enough of them act together.
It provides entirely new insight into the biological mechanism in the development of autism.
The researchers suggest scientists in the future will be able to determine the genes that separate the diagnostic groups of autism.
This can help develop more precise diagnoses and provide better counseling for people who suffer from autism disorders.
One author of the study is Professor Mark Daly from Broad Institute and Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland. The lead author is Associate Professor Jakob Grove from Aarhus University.
The study is published in the scientific journal Nature Genetics.
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
