Dear Colleagues,

The frequency of ASD diagnoses has increased dramatically in the last decade. Once considered rare, the current estimates of prevalence suggest that 1:45 in children in the United States (2.2%) and Europe is diagnosed with an ASD. Although individuals with ASD are very different from one another, the disorder is characterised by core features in two areas—social communication and restricted, repetitive sensory–motor behaviours—irrespective of culture, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic group. ASD results from early altered brain development and neural reorganisation. While the specific causes of autism spectrum disorders have yet to be found, many risk factors identified in the research literature can contribute to their development. These risk factors include genetic, prenatal, and perinatal factors, neuroanatomical abnormalities, and environmental factors. It is possible to identify general risk factors, but it is much more difficult to identify specific factors.

However, because there are not yet any reliable biomarkers, diagnosis must be made on the basis of behaviour. The challenge of the future is to look at specific areas and biomarkers that can help in the diagnosis. Another interesting topic is the broader autism phenotype, heredity, and the differences of ASD based on sex and age, as well as how families can be helped to cope with the difficulties associated with ASD.

Papers addressing these topics are invited for this Special Issue, especially those combining a high academic standard coupled with a practical focus analyzing ASD from various points of view.

Dr. Andrea De Giacomo
Guest Editor

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• ASD
• environment
• recognition
• biomarkers
• intellectual disability
• comorbidity
• severity