Commentary
In the News: Autism Increase
In California, the increase in the numbers of autism cases went up 273% from 1987 to 1998. Researchers at the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis set out to find out how to explain this alarming increase. Until recently, it was believed that the appearance of an increase in the number of autism cases was the result of artificial factors and did not mean that the number of childrenwith autism was really on the rise.
This study at the MIND Institute confirms an increase in the real number of cases of autism in California. The study found that the increase in numbers of autism diagnoses could not be explained by factors like
We suspect that this increase in California is indicative of a nation-wide trend.
- Read the press release about the study.
- Update 2009: UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute study shows California's autism increase not due to better counting, diagnosis
Reviewed by faculty and staff at the University of Michigan
Updated November 2009
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