Kids with autistic older sibling have seven-fold risk

By Genevra Pittman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Children who have an older sibling with autism are seven times more likely than other kids to be diagnosed with the disorder themselves, according to a new study from Denmark. That extra risk is smaller than had been suggested in earlier studies. Researchers also found a higher-than-average risk among children whose older half-sibling had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – especially if the two kids shared the same mother. …