Iowa City, Iowa — University of Iowa researchers have identified 60 new genes associated with autism.
Researcher Jake Michaelson says this builds on a lot of other studies of the disease.
Michaelson is an associate professor of psychiatry, and says identifying the new genes helps unravel some of the mystery.
He says there are lots of different kinds of autism and some kinds of autism have very serious medical implications.
He says there needs to be a lot more study done to come up with some answers.
Michaelson says they seem to always be talking about the deficits and the problems and the challenges of autism, but he says they need to also understand the strengths that go along with that. He says that can lead to resilience and cultivating those strengths and developing the talents that are there as autism research moves into the future.
To participate in the SPARK study please enroll at https://sparkforautism.org/registration/account_information/?code=uiowa#no-back-button.
