Genetic Advances in Autism.

This is a narrative review, not a trial or systematic review, so it does not test a treatment or provide new patient outcomes. The genetic evidence comes from many different study designs and populations, so it does not tell a clinician which therapy to choose for a specific child. Autism is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, so the same variant may not produce the same speech, language, or behaviour pattern. Current common genetic tests have little predictive use, and rare variant results are often difficult to interpret for families. The review discusses genetic risk and diagnosis, not speech, occupational, or physical therapy outcomes.

Funding was reported from the Dr. Ralph and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust (US), the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, and Cardiff University. The supplied text does not state author conflicts of interest.

Do not read the heritability estimates as evidence that autism can be reduced to one gene or one therapy pathway. The review says autism is genetically heterogeneous and it is not yet known whether common final biological pathways can be targeted safely by treatment.