Epidemiology

While the epidemiology of autism is largely unknown, there is no shortage of theories in the area. In part, the mystery of autism has been slow to resolve due to its relatively recent identification as a disorder, and because government funding of autism research lags far behind that of less common diagnoses, such as juvenile diabetes. What funding is available has largely been directed toward epidemiological research, rather than clinical studies investigating possible environmental triggers. In addition, in recent times the number of diagnosed incidents of autism has risen dramatically.