A study of over 45,000 people reveals that autism is a complex condition with different types diagnosed at various life stages, influenced by distinct genetic profiles and developmental pathways, with later diagnoses often overlapping with ADHD and associated with worsening mental health challenges.
Research indicates that children diagnosed with autism at different ages have distinct genetic and developmental profiles, with early diagnoses linked to behavioral challenges from a young age and later diagnoses associated with social difficulties during adolescence and increased mental health risks, suggesting autism may encompass multiple conditions with varied emergence patterns.
New research shows that autism is not a single disorder but consists of distinct subtypes with different genetic profiles and developmental trajectories, depending on whether it is diagnosed early or later in life, highlighting the complexity and heterogeneity of autism.
A large international study found that autism diagnosed early in childhood has distinct genetic and developmental profiles compared to autism diagnosed later, with early diagnosis linked to social difficulties from a young age and later diagnosis associated with increased risks of depression and mental health issues, suggesting autism is a spectrum with multiple underlying biological pathways.