An Autism Gene?

Posted by: Keri Forsythe

It seems like every time I listen to the news – or, in my case, walk into my living room – the subject of autism is being discussed. One of my roommates works as a case manager for autistic kids, and she's constantly regaling me with tales about her children – don't worry, she never uses names. (My personal favorite: The kid last summer who was obsessed with the "Lion King" and would only respond to people who called him Simba – or roared at him!)

But the thing my roommate and I always discuss is whether or not autism is inherited or the result of vaccines, food, or sheer misfortune. She personally believes that it's genetic, citing similar personality traits of all the autistic children's parents. Me? I'm still on the fence about this one.

But, it looks like new research is casting credibility on my roommate's theory. According to a new study from the North Carolina at Chapel Hill, some parents of autistic children evaluate facial expressions differently than the rest of us – and in a way that is strikingly similar to autistic patients themselves.

"This manifests as a tendency not to prefer interactions with others, not to enjoy 'small talk' for the sake of the social experience, and to have few close friendships involving sharing and mutual support," according to UNC psychiatrist Dr. Joe Piven. "This characteristic is really a variation of normal and not associated with any functional impairment."

So, what do you all think? You likely come into contact with autistic children as therapists, and I would love to hear your opinions. Discuss :)