Understanding genetic causes of intellectual disability and autism

This is a research study that invites families to share medical and family information through easy-to-answer online questionnaires. Researchers are building a database of people with intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder that is caused by a specific genetic change. By collecting this information from many families with the same genetic mutation, scientists hope to better understand how these conditions affect people over time and develop more personalized care plans.

Currently, doctors know little about how genetic mutations cause intellectual disability and autism in different people—why some people have more severe symptoms than others, what health complications to watch for, and how treatments might affect each person differently. This study exists to fill those gaps so doctors can provide better, more targeted care based on each person's unique genetic situation.