Genetic and Environmental Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Critical Gap of Interest in Global Psychiatry.

Abstract

Recently, the lack of evidence regarding primary data on the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Brazil has been highlighted. The discussion underscores the concerning rise in autism diagnoses over recent decades, based on data from the United Kingdom. Although various factors have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, much of the available information remains inconclusive and restricted to specific geographic regions. This raises concerns about the validity of published findings, given the reported influence of genetic and environmental factors, both of which are key risk determinants for ASD and vary across regions and populations.