Genetic study links autism diagnosis timing to distinct risk profiles

A new study published in the journal Behavior Genetics suggests that the timing of an autism diagnosis may be a more significant indicator of genetic risk profiles than biological sex. While autism is historically diagnosed more frequently in boys and typically at an earlier age than in girls, researchers found that the overall genetic signals for males and females are remarkably similar.

Instead, the genetic profiles appear to diverge based on when the diagnosis occurs. Early-diagnosed autism shows stronger genetic links to educational and cognitive traits. In contrast, late-diagnosed autism is more closely associated with conditions such as depression, PTSD, and ADHD. These findings suggest that the observed differences between boys and girls in autism diagnoses may be partially driven by the timing of identification rather than biological sex alone.