I've gotta ask...

If someone has Asperger's syndrome, are their children more likely to have it too? Also are their kids more likely to have other forms of autism? I dated someone with Asperger's for a while, and while it's no longer a real burning question, I'm still curious. He's still my friend so it still matters to me what his life is going to be like. I did a lot of research about this when we were dating but I never found anything conclusive. Can anybody please enlighten me? Thanks.

Well, Hans Asperger (The founder of the syndrome) noted that the parents of the children that he studied showed similar eccentric behaviour as the children. It doesn't have to be both parents, just one. You see, Asperger's Syndrome is not like Diabetes which is caused by a single gene - It is a syndrome that merely describes a pattern of behaviour in individuals. Therefore there are undoubtedly many genes involved.


Simply put, yes there is a chance a person with Asperger's Syndrome will have children that also have the syndrome. I obviously don't know the percentage-chance involved. I'd need to know the exact genes involved and then have to work it out mathematically. That's difficult considering research on Asperger's Syndrome is nowhere near the top of the list for scientists. I'm currently studying in the area of genetics, biochemistry, and microbiology though so maybe I'll take it on board in the future.


My mother is an extremely social lady but my father is quiet and reserved - He makes little attempt to socialise. He isn't an Asperger's sufferer though. I have three elder brothers and all are quite normal individuals. I'm the one that got all the nasty genes: I'm an Asperger's sufferer and I also have Raynaud's syndrome and Ulcerative Collitis.


A bientot,
Kevster.