The National Autistic Society published a major statement on 15 September 2026 titled “Autism is genetic.” Their research team reviewed 83 research papers and concluded that the evidence supports autism being genetic.
The important details are:
• The National Autistic Society states that autism is genetic and that autistic people are born autistic and remain autistic throughout life.
• They state that most autistic people are autistic because of genes inherited from their parents, which helps explain why autism often runs in families.
• There is no single “autism gene.” Thousands of genes contribute to whether someone is autistic.
• The evidence does not mean that one parent “causes” autism. Genetic inheritance is complex, involving many genetic variants, and the NAS states that other factors play a role much less commonly, usually alongside genetic factors.
There is also significant new genetic research this week. A UCSF-led international study published on 16 September 2026 identified 65 genes associated with autism, including 28 with very high statistical confidence, along with six genetic risk regions. https://psychiatry.ucsf.edu/.../new-autism-genes-are
New evidence reinforces what genetic research has been showing for years: autism has a strong genetic basis. The National Autistic Society has now reviewed 83 research papers and stated that autism is genetic. There is no single autism gene. Thousands of genes contribute to autism, and the genetics are complex.
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