Our understanding of Autism has advanced significantly during the past century. However, our knowledge is still insufficient. It is undeniable that Autism runs in families, but the “how” and “why” are, to put it mildly, unclear.
Persons with Autism may experience as many as 1,000 distinct genetic mutations that alter how their brain cells communicate.
ASD seems to be caused by genetics and environmental factors.
Heritable Traits
When discussing the genetics of ASD, we mostly refer to inheritable features, such as a single gene or a group of genes that affect a child’s development. Of course, environmental circumstances may also influence how those features manifest, but that discussion is best saved for another time.
To further complicate matters, many causes of Autism are genetic but not hereditary, which means that a child’s genes have undergone a novel alteration that has not been observed in their parents. These chromosomal or gene-specific causes of Autism are more likely to affect a single gene or chromosomal region.
Family Health History of ASD
According to a significant study conducted in Sweden, autistic children are likely to be born into families with a history of brain disorders. The likelihood that a child will have autism increases with the degree of relationship between affected family members.
You are more likely to develop ASD yourself or to have a kid with ASD if your family has a history of the disorder. In particular, if you have a daughter with ASD or more than one kid with ASD, you are more likely to have another child with ASD if you already have one.
It would also be more likely for your other family members to have a kid with ASD.
When gathering data on the family’s medical history,
- Include the parents, siblings, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews of you and your partner.
- Record if any family members have genetic testing and the outcomes of the testing.
Your child’s doctor can provide better treatment for your child if they know your family’s medical history regarding ASD. The doctor might examine your child more carefully to look for early indications of ASD and might suggest that a specialist evaluate your child.
Autism In Siblings
The data is conclusive regarding siblings: A child with ASD has a 20% larger probability of having a sibling with ASD than a child with neurotypical older siblings. The likelihood increases to 32% when that diagnosis affects a family’s first two children.
Which Parent Has the Gene for Autism?
If you’re wondering whether autism “runs in families,” you should know that neither a specific parent’s gender nor ancestry is associated with the condition. However, you can get a fair idea of where the expression pattern came from by comparing the genetics or illness expression on both sides of the family.
How Probably Runs Autism in Families?
Researchers are unsure of the precise source of Autism, which runs in families extremely often but not consistently, meaning that not every generation is affected. We can reasonably assume that if someone has Autism, they most likely have a genetically inherited history of ASD in their family.
Conclusion
There are many kinds of ASD. Autism runs in families because Autism and its symptoms and severity vary from child to child.
If any family member has Autism (ASD), it may cause more chances of having a child with Autism, so for early diagnosis, take full care of the family health history.