Risk of Autism High Among Siblings

Research says siblings of those who have autism are at a higher risk of suffering from the same condition

A new study conducted by researchers from the Cambridge University suggests that the siblings of those who have autism are at a higher risk of suffering from the same condition and reaction to facial expressions can be used as a sort of biomarker in order to identify those who are at higher risk to the condition.

While it is known that those who have autism struggle to read other people’s facial expressions such as a smile or a frown, researchers from Cambridge University found that their siblings too have lower brain reactions to such emotions.

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The researchers observed 40 families who had an autistic child and a sibling without the condition and another 40 families with no history of autism and found that the family risk of autism increased by 20 times if there was a child who already had the condition.

Source-Medindia

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