Autism develops from many different influences during early brain development. In this article, Duke researchers Alexandra Bey, MD, PhD, Scott Soderling, PhD, and Geraldine Dawson, PhD, explain a “threshold” model: no single gene or factor causes autism on its own. Instead, they describe how many small genetic differences, together with certain environmental influences before birth, can add up and increase the likelihood that a child will develop autism.
Read the full article (open access) at https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI201157
Bey, A. L., Soderling, S., & Dawson, G. (2025). Genetic and environmental influences in autism: Guiding the future of tailored early detection and intervention. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 135(22). https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI201157