Expert: James Michael Roan - 8/5/2007

Question
Hello.  I have a nephew who is 6 years old and has recently been diagnosed with Autism.  Until he was about three years old we thought that he was just a slow developer.  He is the son of my husband's older brother.   He and his wife have just had their second child,  about six months ago.  Although I know it is too soon to tell, I sometimes wonder if their second child might be Autistic as well... probably just out of paranoia.
My husband and I are thinking of trying to get pregnant in the spring, but after watching the Oprah show, which said that there is most likely something genetic in Autism, I am terrified that our baby will have the same challenges.  
My questions are:
1. How much of Autism is determined by genetics?
2. If my husband's brother has the gene that passes down Autism, does that mean that my husband also carries that gene?
3. Is there any way to determine if either my husband or I have the gene that may be a precursor for Autism?

If this is not the right forum to pose these questions, can you please point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Victory;

Your timing couldn't be better! I just returned from a presentation on genetics and autism.

First, your new nephew has a 3-7 percent chance of having an autism spectrum disorder. Your chance, statistically, is around 1 percent or one out of 100, which is only slightly higher than the national average. These odds might be higher if you and/or your husband have noticeable communication and/or social delays.

There is no way yet of knowing if your husband has that gene or if it would affect any of your children. The science of autism and genetics is still in its infancy.

Kind regards,
James