What is autism spectrum disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to interact socially and relate to the world around them. The degree to which an individual is affected ranges across a wide spectrum, from severe difficulties in communicating to mild symptoms.
ASD facts
- More than 74 million people are affected by ASD worldwide
- Treated prevalence is increasing, probably as a reflection of increased awareness and improving access to services
- In 2012 in Australia, 1 in 63 schoolchildren were diagnosed with ASD
- Males are 4-5 times more likely to be diagnosed than females
ASD research at QBI
ASD-related research at QBI is covered by a number of laboratories. For more information, head to the following pages or contact the researchers directly.
- Professor Tom Burne – Interactions between risk factors for autism
- Professor Darryl Eyles – Environmental risk factors for autism
- Professor John McGrath – Epidemiology of autism and links with Vitamin D
- Professor Helen Cooper - How signalling pathways ensure the fidelity of cortical development and links to receptors and genes associated with autism
- Dr Nathalie Dehorter — Early detection of neuronal dysfunction in Autism
More on ASD
