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AS/autism, genetics & geography

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Keeno
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17 Sep 2008, 4:07 pm

Because Asperger's is thought to be genetic, as well as autism in general, it would follow that there must be geographical areas where it's more concentrated than others. Or was originally so, in the days when most everyone stayed in one place, before mass migration. Because if it's genetic it would be passed down from one person to another and they would obviously be geographically close.

Anyone got any thoughts on this? If there are such areas, the Stirling area in Scotland MUST be one. Any other likely areas?



MemberSix
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17 Sep 2008, 4:37 pm

Keeno wrote:
Because Asperger's is thought to be genetic, as well as autism in general, it would follow that there must be geographical areas where it's more concentrated than others. Or was originally so, in the days when most everyone stayed in one place, before mass migration. Because if it's genetic it would be passed down from one person to another and they would obviously be geographically close.

Anyone got any thoughts on this? If there are such areas, the Stirling area in Scotland MUST be one. Any other likely areas?

To my mind, ASD's are a very primitive, hierarchy-creating adaptation that began with the evolution of the social mammalian mind.
It's been around for millions of years.



Last edited by MemberSix on 17 Sep 2008, 4:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

NextFact
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17 Sep 2008, 4:37 pm

iran



pandd
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17 Sep 2008, 6:32 pm

Keeno wrote:
Because Asperger's is thought to be genetic, as well as autism in general, it would follow that there must be geographical areas where it's more concentrated than others.

No it does not.
Quote:
Or was originally so, in the days when most everyone stayed in one place, before mass migration. Because if it's genetic it would be passed down from one person to another and they would obviously be geographically close.

Not necessarily.

Quote:
Anyone got any thoughts on this? If there are such areas, the Stirling area in Scotland MUST be one. Any other likely areas?

Being genetic is not synonymous with being hereditary.



Divest
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17 Sep 2008, 7:22 pm

There has been a study that a higher percentage of AS children have been being born in the silicon valley area of California based on the prevalence of tech couples. This would help prove your theory.



LostInSpace
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17 Sep 2008, 11:00 pm

New Jersey is known for having higher rates of autism than the rest of the country. It's 1 in 94 rather than 1 in 150. New Jersey also has tons of factories though, so people who think there is an environmental influence believe the high incidence is due to that. I've also heard that people who have kids with autism may move there because there are good autism services (although it's possible that there are such good services *because* of the higher incidence).



KingmanMan
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04 Oct 2014, 7:30 pm

LostInSpace wrote:
New Jersey is known for having higher rates of autism than the rest of the country. It's 1 in 94 rather than 1 in 150. New Jersey also has tons of factories though, so people who think there is an environmental influence believe the high incidence is due to that. I've also heard that people who have kids with autism may move there because there are good autism services (although it's possible that there are such good services *because* of the higher incidence).


Textbook example of the 'chicken and the egg' parable there. :)



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12 Nov 2014, 7:45 pm

For 2014, the incidence of Autism throughout the US has gone down to 68:1; it was 150:1 about two years ago.

There is no "epidemic," though. I believe the rise in incidence is because of the broadening of the diagnostic criteria for autism, a greater awareness of the "Spectrum" nature of autism, and the lessening of the stigma attached to autism.

I believe it will bottom out at about 30:1 eventually. I believe the male/female ratio will lessen considerably, too.