Nearly 60% of the genetic risk of developing autism may be due to inherited genetic variants, according to US researchers.
Manhattan researchers conducted analysed DNA sequence variations from 3,000 patients on the Swedish universal health registry.
They found most of the genetic risk of autism was caused by inherited gene variants common in the population and present in individuals without the disorder.
Specifically, the study found about 52.4% of autism was traced to common and rare inherited variations, with spontaneous mutations contributing only 2.6% of the total risk.
The authors said it was important to remind doctors that family genetics were a key contributor to autism.
Read more at Carnegie Mellon University