https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02224-z The study defines four subtypes of autism — Social and Behavioral Challenges, Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay, Moderate Challenges, and Broadly Affected. Each subtype exhibits distinct developmental, medical, behavioral and psychiatric traits, and importantly, different patterns of genetic variation. Individuals in the Social and Behavioral Challenges group show core autism traits, including social challenges and repetitive behaviors, but generally reach developmental milestones at a pace similar to children without autism. They also often experience co-occurring conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder alongside autism. One of the larger groups, this constitutes around 37% of the participants in the study. The Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay group tends to reach developmental milestones, such as walking and talking, later than children without autism, but usually does not show signs of anxiety, depression or disruptive behaviors. “Mixed” refers to differences within this group with respect to repetitive behaviors and social challenges. This group represents approximately 19% of the participants. Individuals with Moderate Challengesshow core autism-related behaviors, but less strongly than those in the other groups, and usually reach developmental milestones on a similar track to those without autism. They generally do not experience co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Roughly 34% of participants fall into this category. The Broadly Affected group faces more extreme and wide-ranging challenges, including developmental delays, social and communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors and co-occurring psychiatric conditions like anxiety, depression and mood dysregulation. This is the smallest group, accounting for around 10% of the participants.
The study defines four subtypes of autism — Social and Behavioral Challenges, Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay, Moderate Challenges, and Broadly Affected. Each subtype exhibits distinct developmental, medical, behavioral and psychiatric traits, and importantly, different patterns of genetic variation.
Individuals in the Social and Behavioral Challenges group show core autism traits, including social challenges and repetitive behaviors, but generally reach developmental milestones at a pace similar to children without autism. They also often experience co-occurring conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder alongside autism. One of the larger groups, this constitutes around 37% of the participants in the study.
The Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay group tends to reach developmental milestones, such as walking and talking, later than children without autism, but usually does not show signs of anxiety, depression or disruptive behaviors. “Mixed” refers to differences within this group with respect to repetitive behaviors and social challenges. This group represents approximately 19% of the participants.
Individuals with Moderate Challengesshow core autism-related behaviors, but less strongly than those in the other groups, and usually reach developmental milestones on a similar track to those without autism. They generally do not experience co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Roughly 34% of participants fall into this category.
The Broadly Affected group faces more extreme and wide-ranging challenges, including developmental delays, social and communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors and co-occurring psychiatric conditions like anxiety, depression and mood dysregulation. This is the smallest group, accounting for around 10% of the participants.
1. **社交与行为挑战型**：这一组表现出核心的自闭症特征，包括社交挑战和重复行为，但通常能以与非自闭症儿童相似的速度达到发展里程碑。约37%的参与者属于这一组，且许多人还伴有注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）、焦虑、抑郁或强迫症等共病情况。
2. **混合型自闭症伴发展迟缓**：这一组的儿童通常在达到发展里程碑（如走路和说话）方面较迟，但通常不表现出焦虑、抑郁或破坏性行为。“混合”是指这一组内在重复行为和社交挑战方面的差异。这一组大约占参与者的19%。
3. **中度挑战型**：这一组表现出核心的自闭症相关行为，但强度低于其他组，通常能以与非自闭症儿童相似的速度达到发展里程碑。大约34%的参与者属于这一组，且通常不伴有共病的精神疾病。
4. **广泛影响型**：这一组面临更为极端和广泛的挑战，包括发展迟缓、社交和沟通困难、重复行为以及焦虑、抑郁和情绪调节障碍等共病情况。该组是最小的，约占参与者的10%。
这项研究为理解自闭症的多样性提供了重要的视角，有助于为不同亚型的个体制定更有针对性的干预措施。