Autism’s High Prevalence Could Be an Evolutionary Trade-Off

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A recent study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution by Oxford University Press suggests that the relatively high prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in humans may be rooted in evolutionary history.

In the United States, roughly one in 31 children (3.2%) has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder, while global estimates from the World Health Organization place the rate at about one in 100 children.

From an evolutionary standpoint, many scientists argue that autism and schizophrenia may be conditions unique to humans. Behaviors linked to these disorders are rarely observed in non-human primates, and they typically involve advanced cognitive skills such as language production and comprehension abilities that are either exclusive to humans or far more complex in our species than in others.

https://scitechdaily.com/autisms-high-prevalence-could-be-an-evolutionary-trade-off/