Autism Isn’t Just Genetic. And It’s Not Just Environmental Either...
As scientists confirm shared genetic roots across populations, they’re also uncovering how timing and environment may shape development.
For years, autism has been explained in two very different ways. On one side, genetics—the idea that autism is something you are born with, written into your biology. On the other, environment—questions about exposure, development, and what happens before and after birth. These conversations have often been treated separately, sometimes even in conflict.
But two recent developments suggest the reality may be more connected, and more complex, than either explanation alone.
A new large-scale genetic study led by researchers at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that many of the genes associated with autism are consistent across different populations, including individuals from Latin American backgrounds who have historically been underrepresented in research. In simple terms, the core genetic signals linked to autism appear to show up regardless of ancestry. That finding matters. I…
