Study reveals new genetic risk factor for both autism and schizophrenia
Friday, November 5, 2010 - 09:10
in Health & Medicine
ASDs include a range of neurodevelopmental conditions that are being diagnosed at an increasing rate. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that ASD currently affects 1 in 110 people. The prevalence of schizophrenia, with a diagnostic rate of 1 in 100 to 1 in 20, is similar. ASD and schizophrenia affect males more often than females, and both are thought to have a strong and overlapping genetic component. 'The genetic overlap between ASD and schizophrenia, both of which have a high heritability, has been the focus of several recent studies; however, no single specific genetic cause accounts for more than 1%-2% of cases' says Dr Daniel Moreno-De-Luca, the lead author of the study...