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Cited by 616Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersSexual Differentiation and Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders and autistic traits: A decade of new twin studies

Ronald, Angelica, Hoekstra, Rosa A.·2011·American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
DOI 10.1002/ajmg.b.31159
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Abstract

Researchers continue to pursue a better understanding of the symptoms, comorbidities, and causes of autism spectrum disorders. In this article we review more than 30 twin studies of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and autistic traits published in the last decade that have contributed to this endeavor. These twin studies have reported on the heritability of autism spectrum disorders and autistic traits in different populations and using different measurement and age groups. These studies have also stimulated debate and new hypotheses regarding why ASDs show substantial symptom heterogeneity, and what causes their comorbidity with intellectual disability, language delay, and other psychiatric disorders such as ADHD. These studies also reveal that the etiology of autism and autistic traits assessed in the general population is more similar than different, which contributes to the question of where the boundary lies between autism and typical development. Recent findings regarding molecular genetic and environmental causes of autism are discussed in the relation to these twin studies. Lastly, methodological assumptions of the twin design are given consideration, as well as issues of measurement. Future research directions are suggested to ensure that this decade is as productive as the last in attempting to disentangle the causes of autism spectrum disorders. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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  • Environmental factors and gene-environment interplay in autism are understudied.

    “Perhaps due to the frequently reported high heritability of autism [63], environmental factors and gene-environment interplay in autism are understudied [64] but may also help toward identification of subgroups.”

    From Subgrouping the Autism Spectrum: Reflections on DSM-5 (2013) · cites this paper as [63]

  • ASD is one of the most heritable psychiatric disorders, with heritability estimated at about 50% and monozygotic twin concordance rates between 70 and 90%.

    “Twin, family and population-based studies have shown ASD to be one of the most heritable of all psychiatric disorders, with heritability estimated at ~50% (see reviews in [119, 310]) and monozygotic twin concordance rates between 70 to 90% [1, 113, 139, 304, 344].”

    From Autism spectrum disorder: neuropathology and animal models (2017) · cites this paper as [304]

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Authors
Ronald, A., & Hoekstra, R. A.
Affiliations
  • University of London (GB)
  • The Open University (GB)
Corresponding author
Ronald, Angelica
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2011-01-13
Volume
156
Issue
3
Pages
255-274
ISSN
  • 1552-4841 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-485X
DOI
10.1002/ajmg.b.31159
OpenAlex
W2163623694
Cited by
616
References
117
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 50 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 33
FWCI
4.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open Research Online (The Open University) (acceptedVersion)
  • BIROn (Birkbeck, University of London) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, autistic traits, heritability, twin studies, comorbidities, intellectual disability, language delay, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, symptom heterogeneity, autism etiology, molecular genetics, environmental risk factors
MeSH terms
Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Environment, Humans, Twins, Twin Studies as Topic, Quantitative Trait, Heritable, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Inheritance Patterns

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