TIME Special Edition - Autism: New Research, New Knowledge, Reality Vs. Myths, Understanding The Journey, A Mother's Story & More!

It has been more than a century since a Swiss psychiatrist first used the word autism to describe the state of insulation from reality or withdrawal he observed in his patients. Since then, researchers have slowly unlocked the causes of a disorder that affects 1 in 31 people. To help readers better understand autism spectrum disorder, this special issue of TIME delves into the neurological and developmental condition. Most cases are believed to be driven by interactions among genes and the environment—including the prenatal environment—and, despite popular myth, autism is not caused by vaccines. Also included: early signs to watch for, how it is diagnosed, advances in treatment, how to care for those affected, the ways autism is depicted in popular culture, and how so many of those with the disorder can and do have full and fulfilling lives.