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Most of the variation in risk for autism may be explained by genetics rather than differences in environmental factors like lifestyle or community characteristics or certain pregnancy outcomes, a study in five countries suggests.

Autism spectrum disorder has long been thought to involve inherited genetic traits, and some previous research also suggests that some non-inherited traits and maternal characteristics may also play a role.

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For the current study, researchers examined data on births from 1998 to 2007 in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Israel, and Western Australia.

Overall, about 80% of the variation in risk for autism was linked to inherited genetic traits, although this ranged from 51% in Finland to almost 87% in Israel.

“The results show that genetic factors are most important (about 80% of the variation in risk) but that the environment also plays a role,” said Sven Sandin, senior author of the study and a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.