#ASD

A wave of new scientific discoveries is poised to transform how autism is diagnosed, with the latest research pointing to a likely surge in cases—especially among groups historically overlooked by current diagnostic methods. Researchers from Princeton University and the Simons Foundation have identified four genetically distinct autism subtypes, a landmark achievement that could finally explain why some children go undiagnosed for years and why girls and children with subtler symptoms are more likely to be missed. This genetic blueprint promises not only earlier and more accurate identification, but also the possibility of personalized interventions and the reduction of stigma for affected individuals and families. The findings, published in a recent issue of Nature Genetics, signal a seismic shift in understanding and managing autism, with major implications for diagnostics and treatment worldwide—including in Thailand, where autism remains widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed.

A prominent psychiatrist has expressed deep remorse over his role in transforming the landscape of autism in America—a change that saw US autism rates leap from 1 in 2,000 children in the 1980s to approximately 1 in 31 today. The surge, he says, is largely attributable to expanded diagnostic criteria introduced in the 1990s and further broadened in the 2010s, with far-reaching consequences for families, public health policy, and social attitudes across the globe—including in Thailand.

A groundbreaking new study has revealed that extremes in brain synchrony—either too much or too little—may underlie distinct subtypes of autism, offering Thai families, educators, and clinicians fresh hope for more tailored approaches to diagnosis and support. Published on 17 April 2025 in The Transmitter, the research used advanced brain imaging across twenty mouse models genetically engineered to mimic autism, with remarkable implications for understanding the diversity—or heterogeneity—of the autism spectrum in humans (The Transmitter, 2025).