Is aspergers syndrome hereditary

My 16 y.o. son has it & my husband has a lot of the "symptoms" , so I was wondering.....?

What Causes Asperger Syndrome?

Researchers and mental health experts are still investigating the causes of autism and AS. Many believe that the pattern of behavior that characterizes AS may have many causes. There seems to be a hereditary component to AS, and research indicates that in some cases AS may be associated with other mental health disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. Researchers are also looking into whether environmental factors that affect brain development might play a role in the condition.

Contrary to the incorrect assumptions some may make about people with the disorder, AS is not caused by emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up. Because some of the behaviors exhibited by a person with AS may be seen by others as intentionally rude, many people wrongly assume that AS is the result of bad parenting - it isn't. It's a neurobiological disorder whose causes are not yet fully understood.

Currently, there is no cure for the disorder - children with AS become adults with AS. But many individuals with AS lead full and happy lives, and the likelihood of achieving this is enhanced with appropriate education, support, and resources.

Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome

Asperger syndrome can be very difficult to diagnose. Children with AS function well in most aspects of life, and so it may be easy to attribute their strange behaviors to their just being "different."