The Effects of ASD
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental disorders that affect behavior, communication, and learning, and impact more than 1 in 68 U.S. children. There is no identifiable cause for most known cases of ASD, no effective cure, and available treatments are limited.
The costs to society are staggering and studies indicate the prevalence is growing. There is a great need for research into the complex etiologies of ASD that can be translated into treatments to impact their morbidity and societal burden. Research that can capitalize on recent genetic and environmental causes that can then be applied to patients and patient care—a basic-to-clinical translational autism program—will have an immense impact on this heterogeneous group of disorders.