Autism Center for Treatment

A new sibling study from the UC Davis MIND institute found that the younger siblings of children with autism may be more likely to develop autism than previously thought. Past estimates, typically between 3 and 10 %, may underestimate actual recurrence rates. The study, published on August 15th in Pediatrics, reported that 1 in 5 babies with an older sibling on the autism spectrum will likely be affected – more than double previous estimates and about 20 times the rate in the general population. The rate was higher among younger brothers than younger sisters and almost 1 in 3 infants with more than one older sibling on the spectrum went on to develop autism. This research provides valuable information about heritability in autism and may impact family planning for families who already have one or more child with autism. The full text of the study can be found at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/08/11/peds.2010-2825