ASD and Intellectual Deficit weakly correlated

http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.1003518

Correlation is not cause but this fact is disturbing

• There was a strong link in this study between the incidence of autism spectrum disorder and the rate of congenital malformations of the reproductive system, which was used as a surrogate for environmental exposure of parents to unmeasured developmental risk factors, including toxins.
• The state-mandated rigor of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder for consideration in the special education system was also predictive of a considerable decrease in the incidence of autism spectrum disorder.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/Autism/44758?