Genetic and immunohematologic factors in autism.
A 1982 plan to bank blood from kids with autism laid the groundwork for later registries that now guide EIBI evidence.
01Research in Context
What this study did
R et al. wrote a one-page plan. They said UCLA would collect blood from kids with autism. The goal was to build the first genetic registry.
No kids were tested yet. No data were shared. The paper only announced the idea.
What they found
Nothing. The page ends with a phone number for families to call.
How this fits with other research
Shahrokhi et al. (2025) shows the registry dream came true. Their ABBILAR project now holds 1,120 cases and gives real numbers.
Reichow (2012) used later registry data in five meta-analyses. Those reviews proved early ABA raises IQ and daily skills.
Porter et al. (2008) took the same banked blood and tested BDNF as a biomarker. Levels were no different from controls, so the hunt moved on.
Why it matters
This 1982 note is history, not help. It reminds you that big answers start with simple lists. When you enroll families today, you keep the chain alive. Save data, share it, and future meta-analyses may include your kids.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The present study is being conducted to explore the hypothesis that genetic and/or congenital factors are etiologically significant in certain persons with the syndrome of autism. To initiate the project, the UCLA Registry for Genetic Studies in Autism was established in 1980. To date 254 families have enrolled. Extensive clinical material and past medical data are being gathered from each family. Information presented in this preliminary report is based solely upon parental reports and prior medical and school evaluations, as the diagnoses have not yet been verified by the authors. Clinical data and family pedigrees will be analyzed by computer-based methods. Blood studies including chromosomes, gene markers, T-cell and B-cell functions, and antibody levels are being conducted on families meeting specific research criteria.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 1982 · doi:10.1007/BF01531303