A recent article in Newsweek
discusses a new study related to the mystery of gender and genetics in autism.
The study looked at 762 families that have been affected by autism (653 males,
109 females). The study looked for two kinds of genetic mutations; copy number
variant or single nucleotide variant. The results showed the females had a
greater amount of mutation than the males. These results speculate that male brains
need milder alterations in order to have autism.
In the book Pink Brain, Blue Brain by Lisa Elliot, the author explores the
validity of autism being a male trait. She mentions Simon Baron-Cohen to be an
advocate of describing autism as the consequence of an “extreme male brain” This
theory uses empathy and communication deficits in autism as its bases. Elliot
points out that Cohan relies on self-report questionnaires rather than more
objective measures.
As of right now there are still
many questions left to be answered regarding the causes of autism and its
disparity in gender. Elliot reminds us
what science does know; an early diagnosis leads to better prognosis. It is
important to wire social and communication circuits as early as possible. Given this information, parents of new- born
children should make sure to emphasize early social interaction.
References
Eliot, Lise. Pink
Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grow into Troublesome Gaps--and What
We Can Do about It. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. Print.
Verger, Rob.
"Study Offers a Clue in Autism's Gender Divide." Newsweek.
N.p., 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
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