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Autism as a Global Challenge

Autism as a Global Challenge Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) appear to occur in every part of the world, with the majority of affected individuals living outside North America and Europe. Nevertheless, epidemiological and etiological research has been conducted in only a relatively small number of countries and there are marked international variations in the availability of diagnostic and intervention services. This year the United Nations announced the first World Autism Day and so it seems timely to consider the potential benefits and challenges involved in taking a global perspective toward ASDs. Epidemiology provides the tools to identify significant differences in disease prevalence and severity that arise from variations in environmental and genetic risk factors. In the West, most recent epidemiological research has focused on the increase in the detected prevalence of ASDs, but we know very little about whether there are also meaningful differences in prevalence and phenotypic expression between regions, races and cultures. Hence, for instance, are the associations with mental retardation and epilepsy universal and is early childhood regression a global phenomenon? The variations between regions in factors such as physical geography, climate, nutrition, peri‐natal health, childhood diseases, exposure to environmental toxins, to name but a few, may represent important opportunities http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Autism Research Wiley

Autism as a Global Challenge

Bailey, Anthony J.; Karr, Valerie
Autism Research , Volume 1 (3) – Jun 1, 2008
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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2008, International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ISSN
1939-3792
eISSN
1939-3806
DOI
10.1002/aur.28
pmid
19360661
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) appear to occur in every part of the world, with the majority of affected individuals living outside North America and Europe. Nevertheless, epidemiological and etiological research has been conducted in only a relatively small number of countries and there are marked international variations in the availability of diagnostic and intervention services. This year the United Nations announced the first World Autism Day and so it seems timely to consider the potential benefits and challenges involved in taking a global perspective toward ASDs. Epidemiology provides the tools to identify significant differences in disease prevalence and severity that arise from variations in environmental and genetic risk factors. In the West, most recent epidemiological research has focused on the increase in the detected prevalence of ASDs, but we know very little about whether there are also meaningful differences in prevalence and phenotypic expression between regions, races and cultures. Hence, for instance, are the associations with mental retardation and epilepsy universal and is early childhood regression a global phenomenon? The variations between regions in factors such as physical geography, climate, nutrition, peri‐natal health, childhood diseases, exposure to environmental toxins, to name but a few, may represent important opportunities

Journal

Autism Research – Wiley

Published: Jun 1, 2008

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