[article]
Titre : |
Foetal testosterone and autistic traits in 18 to 24-month-old children |
Type de document : |
Texte imprimé et/ou numérique |
Auteurs : |
Bonnie AUYEUNG, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur ; Kevin TAYLOR, Auteur ; Gerald HACKETT, Auteur |
Année de publication : |
2010 |
Article en page(s) : |
8 p. |
Langues : |
Anglais (eng) |
Index. décimale : |
PER Périodiques |
Résumé : |
Background
Autism spectrum conditions have been characterised as an extreme presentation of certain male-typical psychological traits. In addition, several studies have established a link between prenatal exposure to testosterone and cognitive sex differences in later life, and one study found that foetal testosterone (FT) is positively correlated to autistic traits in 6 to 10 year-old children. In this study, we tested whether FT is positively correlated with autistic traits in toddlers aged 18-24 months.
Methods
Levels of FT were analysed in amniotic fluid and compared with autistic traits, measured using the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in 129 typically developing toddlers aged between 18 and 24 months (mean ± SD 19.25 ± 1.52 months).
Results
Sex differences were observed in Q-CHAT scores, with boys scoring significantly higher (indicating more autistic traits) than girls. In addition, we confirmed a significant positive relationship between FT levels and autistic traits.
Conclusions
The current findings in children between 18 and 24 months of age are consistent with observations in older children showing a positive association between elevated FT levels and autistic traits. Given that sex steroid-related gene variations are associated with autistic traits in adults, this new finding suggests that the brain basis of autistic traits may reflect individual differences in prenatal androgens and androgen-related genes. The consistency of findings in early childhood, later childhood and adulthood suggests that this is a robust association. |
En ligne : |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-1-11 |
Permalink : |
https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=109 |
in Molecular Autism > (July 2010) . - 8 p.
[article] Foetal testosterone and autistic traits in 18 to 24-month-old children [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Bonnie AUYEUNG, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur ; Kevin TAYLOR, Auteur ; Gerald HACKETT, Auteur . - 2010 . - 8 p. Langues : Anglais ( eng) in Molecular Autism > (July 2010) . - 8 p.
Index. décimale : |
PER Périodiques |
Résumé : |
Background
Autism spectrum conditions have been characterised as an extreme presentation of certain male-typical psychological traits. In addition, several studies have established a link between prenatal exposure to testosterone and cognitive sex differences in later life, and one study found that foetal testosterone (FT) is positively correlated to autistic traits in 6 to 10 year-old children. In this study, we tested whether FT is positively correlated with autistic traits in toddlers aged 18-24 months.
Methods
Levels of FT were analysed in amniotic fluid and compared with autistic traits, measured using the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in 129 typically developing toddlers aged between 18 and 24 months (mean ± SD 19.25 ± 1.52 months).
Results
Sex differences were observed in Q-CHAT scores, with boys scoring significantly higher (indicating more autistic traits) than girls. In addition, we confirmed a significant positive relationship between FT levels and autistic traits.
Conclusions
The current findings in children between 18 and 24 months of age are consistent with observations in older children showing a positive association between elevated FT levels and autistic traits. Given that sex steroid-related gene variations are associated with autistic traits in adults, this new finding suggests that the brain basis of autistic traits may reflect individual differences in prenatal androgens and androgen-related genes. The consistency of findings in early childhood, later childhood and adulthood suggests that this is a robust association. |
En ligne : |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-1-11 |
Permalink : |
https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=109 |
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