Germline‑mutation theory for autism

Rather than classic environmental teratogens or single‑gene causes, some researchers propose that mutations arising in parental germ cells (sperm or eggs), possibly influenced by parental age or preconception exposures, could explain a modest real rise in autism risk. This reframes the genetic vs environment debate: the cause is genetic in the child but may be driven by parental‑level environmental or age‑related processes. — If true, this shifts research and prevention from focusing only on in‑pregnancy exposures or vaccination myths to parental‑age effects, germ‑cell health, and preconception interventions, with implications for counseling and public policy.