Genetic Testing for Autism, Explained

April 11, 2019

(Spectrum) – Autism is primarily a genetic condition: Most of the risk for autism comes from genes. Mutations in more than 100 genes are known to lead to the condition. There are four types of tests that can detect these mutations, as well as structural variations that may lead to autism. As researchers learn more about the genetics of autism, the tests have become more informative: More of the mutations they find have ties to autism and to known health consequences. Here’s a primer on how genetic tests work, their value for autism and what to expect from the results.