Genetic mutations not inherited from parents appear to explain some cases of autism, new research suggests. And the mutations may number in the hundreds. While the new research is a step forward, it is a small puzzle piece. “It could explain up to 2% of all autism cases,” says researcher Stephan J. Sanders, MD, a postdoctoral research associate at Yale University’s Child Study Center. Even so, he says the new research -- reported as a trio of studies in the journal Neuron -- provides a solid foundation to a better understanding of the biology of the disorder, eventually leading to better treatments.
