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In this Article

• Do vaccines cause autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)?
• Is there an ASD epidemic?
• Can adults be diagnosed with an ASD?
• How many children with ASDs are being served through public special education programs?
• Has the number of children being served under an ASD classification in public special education programs changed?
• How do the rates of ASDs in special education compare with those of other special education categories?
• What are mitochondrial diseases?
• Is there a link between mitochondrial diseases and ASDs?
• Find a local Doctor in your town
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) FAQs Index

A child with an ASD may or may not have a mitochondrial disease. When children have both an ASD and a mitochondrial disease, they sometimes have other problems too, including epilepsy, problems with muscle tone, or movement disorders.

More research is needed to find out how common it is for people to have an ASD and a mitochondrial disease. Right now, it seems rare. In general, more research about mitochondrial disease and ASDs is needed.

SOURCE:

Centers for Disease Control (CDC). "Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)." Division of Birth Defects, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. 20 July 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/topics.html>.