Autism Subtypes, Brain Connectivity Patterns Revealed in New ASD Research

July 22, 2025Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises four distinct subtypes, each with unique genetic patterns and traits that influence brain development, according to a new study published in Nature Genetics that also suggests that certain underlying genetic variations in individuals with ASD increase the likelihood of having ADHD.

1“Autism and ADHD are highly comorbid and share a staggering number of traits and symptoms, many of which are not reflected in diagnostic criteria for either condition,” said Karen Saporito, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist, during the ADDitude webinar “AuDHD Guidance: Why Autism is So Difficult to Diagnose in Women and Girls with ADHD.” “We’ve barely begun to scratch the surface on ADHD and autism.”Though researchers have identified hundreds of ASD-associated genes and substantial evidence for a genetic basis of the condition, few studies have linked specific genes to autistic traits.2, 3, 4, 5The Nature Genetics study, led by a team of researchers from Princeton University, identified four distinct ASD subtypes using a generative mixture modeling framework and data from 5,392 autistic children aged 4 to 18 who participated in the SPARK cohort, a nationwide effort to collect and track the genetic and clinical presentations of autism.

The four autistic subtypes it identified include:More than one-third of participants aligned with the Social and Behavioral Challenges group, making it the most prevalent ASD subtype of the four identified.

Children in this group faced more difficulties with social communication, attention, and repetitive and disruptive behaviors than did participants in other subtypes.