Another reason for an increase in autism rates

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I think the theory is that BAP/autistic women otherwise would have a relatively low probability of marrying a BAP/autistic man, but if they go into science they meet more BAP/autistic men and therefore are more likely to marry one. It's a phenomenon known as assortative mating - people don't pick mates at random, they tend to pick mates who are in their social circle and share interests with them. As a result, you'll often find that both partners have features of the same neurological difference.

But before we start theorizing about why autism might be increasing, we need to find out if it actually is increasing. If there is any true increase in autism, it's being greatly overwhelmed by the increase in diagnosis of autism. Sadly, I couldn't find any data about the rate of childhood schizophrenia in the 50s and 60s because people back then weren't big on epidemiology.

Context To our knowledge, there is no published information on the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in adults. If the prevalence of autism is increasing, rates in older adults would be expected to be lower than rates among younger adults.

Objective To estimate the prevalence and characteristics of adults with ASD living in the community in England.

Design A stratified, multiphase random sample was used in the third national survey of psychiatric morbidity in adults in England in 2007. Survey data were weighted to take account of study design and nonresponse so that the results were representative of the household population.

Setting General community (ie, private households) in England.

Participants Adults (people 16 years or older).

Main Outcome Measures Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Module 4 in phase 2 validated against the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised and Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders in phase 3. A 20-item subset of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient self-completion questionnaire was used in phase 1 to select respondents for phase 2. Respondents also provided information on sociodemographics and their use of mental health services.

Results Of 7461 adult participants who provided a complete phase 1 interview, 618 completed phase 2 diagnostic assessments. The weighted prevalence of ASD in adults was estimated to be 9.8 per 1000 (95% confidence interval, 3.0-16.5). Prevalence was not related to the respondent's age. Rates were higher in men, those without educational qualifications, and those living in rented social (government-financed) housing. There was no evidence of increased use of services for mental health problems.

Conclusions Conducting epidemiologic research on ASD in adults is feasible. The prevalence of ASD in this population is similar to that found in children. The lack of an association with age is consistent with there having been no increase in prevalence and with its causes being temporally constant. Adults with ASD living in the community are socially disadvantaged and tend to be unrecognized.

See I was at this autism group meeting and their was a doctor there. They were discussing the pockets of autism, people on the spectrum. A lot of people on the spectrum or near the spectrum tended to be in science He thought that one of the reasons for rising autism rates are that more women in the 70s and 80s were entering the science fields. With the right mix of genes, you get someone on the spectrum. So more math/science like women(on or near the spectrum) were more likely to meet men on (or near) the spectrum so with the right mix of genes, there comes a child on the spectrum. In the past, maybe less geek minded people were reproducing with other geeks or maybe less geeks were reproducing in general. Who knows?? Just a theory...

you know what would also explain that? the fact that people in that area might be more likely to understand autism and its symptoms or the fact that they are more likely to be able to afford a diagnosis. or it could be drawing auties from the outside as opposed to creating them through breeding.