http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 112117.htm
Not being an American, I have some difficult in understanding the geography, but I think that Silicon Valley is "San Francisco Bay Area".
Quote:
Researchers at UC Davis have identified 10 locations in California where the incidence of autism is higher than surrounding areas in the same region. Most of the areas, or clusters, are in locations where parents have higher-than-average levels of educational attainment. Because children with more educated parents are more likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, one need look no further for a cause, the authors say. The other clusters are located close to major autism treatment centers. The clusters are located primarily in the high-population areas of Southern California and, to a lesser extent, in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Apparently, in SFBA the rates of autism are higher than the Californian average, but, in the context of the areas with much autism, it is not one of the more "affected".
Perhaps autism is more a "nerd syndrome" (associated with parents with high academic achievment) but not specifically a "geek syndrome" (associated with science and technology)? However, I don't know the economic patterns of Southern California clusters (perhaps they are also high-tech areas?).
This is the study:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 0/abstract
13 Sep 2011, 4:02 am
