[MeanWestTexan]

I wonder if the issue is really smart people having babies.

All the parents I know who have a child with autism are both professionals --- docotrs, lawyers, engineers, or the like.

Kind of a "too much of a good thing" issue.

There would also (generally) be older parents, given their education, and hence this corrolation.

Of course, it could just be because the only people I hang out with are professionals.

[Strategerist]

My two friends with autistic children are an analyst with the NSA, and a computer programmer.

There was an article in "Wired" magazine five years ago that speculated on the exact same thing as you:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html

[Hildy]

I think studies would show that autism is higher among couples with higher IQ's.