Autism Spectrum Disorder: Prevalence and a New Risk Factor

The increase in prevalence seems to have occurred in one epidemiologic group; older grandfathers, like older fathers, seem to increase the risk.

Two recent articles provide updates on epidemiology and paternal age risk in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

To examine childhood ASD prevalence over time, researchers examined CDC telephone interviews with parents in 2007 and 2011–2012 (63,967 and 65,556 offspring aged 6–17 years, respectively). Parent-reported prevalence increased from 1/86 to 1/50, largely due to increases in boys and teens aged 14 to 17, who were more likely to be diagnosed with mild ASD. ASD prevalence remained similar in the population that was included in both surveys (this cohort included 56,399 children aged 2–13 years in 2007), thus ruling out methodological errors accounting for the increased prevalence.

Older paternal age is a risk factor for ASD, but the impact o…

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose