February 5, 2026 12:36 PM
Autism might be equally common in males and females, study says
Autism might be just as common in females as in males, according to a study published on Wednesday that counters prevailing estimates of the disorder's prevalence. While the neurological and developmental condition is known to be more common in boys at younger ages, the study found a clear catch-up effect among adolescent girls, the researchers reported in The BMJ. The findings highlight a need to investigate why autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed later in females than in males, they said...