Study reveals a link between cholesterol metabolism and a subtype of autism. The association appears to have a genetic component. Mothers with lipid abnormalities are 16% more likely to have a child diagnosed with ASD, and fathers with abnormal lipid levels were 14% more likely. Individuals on the autism spectrum were twice as likely to have lipid abnormalities than those without ASD. Among those with ASD and abnormal lipid levels, conditions such as ASD, epilepsy, and sleep disorders were more common than in those with normal levels. Findings suggest dyslipidemia may alter neurodevelopment and result in other medical conditions, such as anemia and vitamin D deficiency.