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Twins studies to understand the genetics of Autism

Dr-RamKairam

Dr.Ram Kairam

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Key Takeaways:

  1. About 70% of identical (monozygotic) twins both have autism if one sibling is affected.
  2. For non-identical (dizygotic) twins, the chance is 25-30% that both have autism.
  3. This suggests other factors in the womb may influence autism risk in dizygotic twins.
  4. There is a theory that higher prenatal testosterone may increase autism risk, but it’s unproven.
  5. More extensive twin studies are needed to better understand autism genetics.

In monozygotic twins (identical twins) both siblings have Autism (70%). In case of di-zygotic (non-identical) twins if one sibling has Autism then the chance of the other sibling having autism is 25-30%.  The speculation is role of an additional factor in utero that may have increased the risk of the di-zygotic twin from developing Autism. There is a floating theory that the increase in Testosterone levels may up the risk for Autism in utero. But it hasn’t been conclusively proven yet. We still have a lot to learn about the genetics of Autism from more widespread twin studies.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.

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