Theories about autism causes

There are a lot of mysteries about the causes of autism, including if, how, and when ASD is inherited from parents. Scientists know that part of this mystery has to do with how the environment interacts with our genes.

Researchers have identified an unusual risk for a child developing autism: his mother’s diabetes. Several studies found that pregnant women with diabetes – including the temporary kind – had a higher risk of delivering a child with autism than mothers who weren't diabetic.