Testosterone may affect autism

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Testosterone may affect autism

Thursday, 03 February 2011

Telethon Institute for Child Health Research

A new study from Perth’s Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has

uncovered more evidence of a link between early testosterone levels and autism.

The research team, led by Dr Whitehouse, used data from the long running

Raine Study to examine the relationship between autism-like behaviours in early

childhood among otherwise typically developing girls and the timing of their

first period.

The results, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders,

found that girls with autism-like symptoms such as poor eye contact and

repetitive behaviours were older at the time of their first period.

Dr Whitehouse says this finding may represent an important piece of the puzzle

in understanding the causal influence on autism.

“The findings suggest that there may be a common developmental mechanism

underlying both autism and the later onset of puberty.” Dr Whitehouse said.

“One possible explanation relates to levels of testosterone in the womb. We know

that autism affects more boys than girls. This has led to the idea that exposure

to enhanced levels of testosterone in-utero may contribute to autism.”

A girl’s first period typically occurs between 12 and 13 years of age in most

developed countries. The timing of the first-period is known to be regulated by

both genetic and environmental factors, including race and body mass index.

Importantly, prenatal exposure to testosterone is another factor thought to

influence the age of a girl’s first period.

“These findings indicate that exposure testosterone in the womb may be

regulating both autism-like behaviours and the age of first period, and that

this may play a role in clinical autism,” Dr Whitehouse said.

This study is in line with previous findings by Dr Whitehouse and his team,

which has shown a positive association between concentrations of testosterone

taken from umbilical cord blood and autism-like symptoms in 10 year old

children.

About the Raine Study

The Raine Study is jointly conducted by the Telethon Institute for Child Health

Research and The School of Women’s and Infant’s Health at the University of

Western Australia. The study started in 1989, when 2900 pregnant women were

recruited into a research study at King Memorial Hospital to examine

ultrasound imaging. The mothers were assessed during pregnancy when information

was collected on the mother and the father, for example diet, exercise, work,

health, etc. The research team at the Telethon Institute for Child Health

Research have assessed the children at 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 14 and 17 and now

20years of age. Find out more at www.rainestudy.org.au.