Source: BBC News >> Read full article and comment
Researchers have discovered that where you used to live could affect your child’s chances of being autistic by up to five times.
The study looked at children whose mother had moved to the UK from outside Europe.
It showed an increased risk of autism in children whose parents had migrated from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, the UK researchers said.
The greatest risk was for the Caribbean group, the BBC World Service reported.
Speaking on Health Check, Dr Daphne Keen, from St. George’s Hospital London, said while the findings show a clear link between immigration and autism – they could not determine exactly why this was the case.
The research covered 428 children diagnosed with autism during a six-year period.
“We didn’t find there was an increased risk in the parents who had migrated from other European countries,” Dr Keen added.
“The size of the increased risk was greatest for the Caribbean group. This was at least five times.
“The risk was also very significant, but slightly less, for the African population and much lower, but still a little present, for the Asian population.” … Continue reading
