A major project, launched today, will seek to enrol thousands of people with autism to improve their treatment and support.
Experts in Cambridge, UK, and the University of California, Los Angeles, stress they support neurodiversity and are opposed to eugenics and solutions that seek to prevent to eradicate the condition.
Some 10,000 participants will complete questionnaires and provide saliva samples. The researchers would like biological relatives to take part as well.
They say they are seeking treatments to alleviate unwanted symptoms and co-occurring conditions that cause distress.
Leaders of the project, Spectrum 10k, include Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge.
The professor said: “There is an urgent need to better understand the wellbeing of autistic individuals. Spectrum 10K hopes to answer questions such as why some autistic people have epilepsy or poor mental health outcomes and others do not.”
Backers include prominent people with autism such as TV naturalist Chris Packham, who said: “I’m honoured to be an ambassador of Spectrum 10K because I believe in the value of science to inform the support services that autistic kids and adults will need.”
Cambridgeshire consultant neurodevelopmental paediatrician, Dr Venkat Reddy, said: “There is a need to conduct further research into autism and co-occurring conditions to enable researchers and clinicians to build a better understanding of autism. I would encourage autistic individuals and their families to consider taking part in Spectrum 10K.”
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