Scientific brain linked to autism

[abdulhakeem]

Monday, 30 January 2006

Highly analytical couples, such as scientists, may be more likely to produce children with autism, an expert has argued.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, of the University of Cambridge, said the phenomenon might help explain the recent rise in diagnoses.

He believes the genes which make some analytical may also impair their social and communication skills.

A weakness in these areas is the key characteristic of autism.
It is thought that around one child in every 100 has a form of autism - the vast majority of those affected are boys.

The number of diagnoses seems to be on the increase, but some argue this is simply because of a greater awareness of the condition.

In a paper published in the journal Archives of Disease of Childhood, Professor Baron-Cohen labels people such as scientists, mathematicians and engineers as "systemizers".

They are skilled at analysing systems - whether it be a vehicle, or a maths equation - to figure out how they work.

But they also tend to be less interested in the social side of life, and can exhibit behaviour such as an obsession with detail - classic traits associated with autism.

Body of evidence

Professor Baron-Cohen argues that systemizers are often attracted to each other - and thus more likely to pass "autism" genes to their offspring.

He cited a survey of 1,000 members of the National Autistic Society which found fathers and grandfathers of children with autistic spectrum conditions are twice as likely to work in a systemizing profession.

In addition, students in the natural sciences have a higher number of relatives with autism than do students in the humanities, and mathematicians have a higher rate of autistic spectrum conditions compared with the general population.

Other research has found both mothers and fathers of children with autism score highly on a questionnaire measuring autistic traits.

Brain scan studies have also shown that mothers of autistic children often show patterns of brain activity more associated with men.

Professor Baron-Cohen said the rise in autism might be linked to the fact that it had become easier for systemizers to meet each other, with the advent of international conferences, greater job opportunities and more women working in these fields.

Richard Mills, of the National Autistic Society, said: "The society welcomes all new research, particularly that which helps us understand the nature and possible causes of autism and which may inform the support that we give to individuals.

"Over half a million people in the UK have a form of autism. It is a lifelong developmental disorder which requires specialist support."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/health/4661402.stm

[abdulhakeem]

Parents' marriage choice may lead to autism

By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
(Filed: 30/01/2006)

The recent rise in autism may have been driven by the tendency of like-minded engineers, physicists, mathematicians and other "systemizers" to marry each other, according to a Cambridge University professor.

Around one child in every 100 - mostly males - has autism and the number of cases seems to be on the increase, though some argue that it is due to greater awareness and changes in diagnosis.

In a new study, Prof Simon Baron-Cohen believes the impaired ability of people with autism to communicate, recognise emotions and socialise is linked with the same genes that enable a person to systemize - find the laws that govern how a system works.

This is more often a male trait and present among scientists.

He has uncovered clues that suggest that when systemizers marry they have a higher risk of having children with autism. And he believes that systemizers are also more attracted to each other than one would expect by chance, due to what he calls "assortative mating".

Systemizers feel more comfortable in the company of each other rather than that of what he calls empathizers. "We have found clues in a range of studies we have conducted since 1997 that assortative mating is going on."

In the journal Archives of Diseases of Childhood this month, Prof Baron-Cohen reports various suggestive clues to link systemizing with autism.

According to a survey of 1,000 members of the National Autistic Society, fathers and grandfathers of children with autistic spectrum conditions are twice as likely to work in a systemizing profession such as engineering.

Students in the natural sciences have a higher number of relatives with autism than do students in the humanities, and mathematicians have a higher rate of autistic spectrum conditions compared with the general population.

The theory that both parents of children with autism are strong systemizers is also evident from a study that shows both mothers and fathers score above average on a questionnaire that measures autistic traits.

The parents are also faster at "visual search tasks" - in effect they have an unusually sharp eye for detail, just as their child with autism does - compared with the parents of unaffected children.

Brain scan studies of mothers and fathers of children with autism have shown that the mothers have a masculinised pattern of brain activity, again suggesting they are strong systemizers.

When all the evidence is taken together it suggests a genetic cause of autism, with both parents contributing genes that ultimately relate to a similar kind of mind: one with an affinity for thinking systematically.

Prof Baron-Cohen says the rise in autism could be driven because assortative mating is becoming easier: recent years have seen a rise in mobility, an increase in the employment prospects of systemizers - notably in the computer industry - and a rise in the numbers of women studying mathematics, engineering and other systemizing subjects at university, where they are more likely to come into contact with systemizing men.

He points out that the parents of children with autism may not have strong skills in such subjects, but that does not mean they are not strong systemizers.

The parents may for example have a remarkable memory for the names of songs in their CD collection, or for dates or telephone numbers.

He thinks the key characteristic is "exactness" in their style of thinking.

In the spectrum of conditions that count as autism, the largest groups are classic autism and Asperger syndrome. Both share features: a difficulty in developing social relationships, a difficulty in communication, the presence of unusually strong, narrow interests, and a strong adherence to routines.

They differ in that in classic autism, the person might have an IQ at any point on the scale, even in the learning disabled range, and the person invariably had a language delay as a toddler.

In Asperger syndrome, the person is always at least average in IQ, and may be well above average, and talked on time as a toddler.

rhighfield@telegraph.co.uk (rhighfield@telegraph.co.uk)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/01/30/naut30.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/01/30/ixhome.html

[abdulhakeem]

Likeminded analytical couples forbode autism in their progeny

Posted on : Tue, 31 Jan 2006
Author : Renin Paul

University of Cambridge's Professor Simon Baron-Cohen suggests in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood that couples who are likeminded as far as their analytical bent may be more prone to beget autistic children. Prof Baron-Cohen even cites the rise in the number of autistic cases to a consequence of people being more analytical.

He points that at the core of this correlation is possibly a genetic link between being analytical and impaired social and communication skills that characterize autism. While it is believed that autism in some form is true of every 100th child born, the disorder's genetic predilection seems to favor boys. Even as the numbers rise, a few believe that it awareness that has raised detection.

In his paper that appears the journal, Prof Baron-Cohen has dubbed those with the analytical bent of mind as "systemizers", which encompasses besides scientists, engineers and mathematicians. Their skill is in thoroughly analyzing a system irrespective of whether it is an equation, a vehicle or even problem. These people tend to find out the how to these complex challenges and at the same time find the social aspect of life tedious. Trying to characterize the “systemizers” Prof Baron-Cohen portrays them as people obsessed with detail that is a classical characteristic of autism.

Prof Baron-Cohen believes that systemizers getting together as a couple because of their similarities will therefore be more prone to passing "autism" genetically to their children. Citing a survey of the National Autistic Society's 1,000 odd members he noted that they showed twice the likelihood of having fathers or grandfathers in professions of a “systemizing” nature.

Similarly, he noted that those studying the natural sciences had many more kin who are autistic than those studying the humanities, while those studying mathematics showed a higher rate of the spectrum conditions vis-à-vis the general public.

He also cited research where parents of autistic children scored high when gauged on a questionnaire that evaluated autistic traits. Given the background brain scan studies have revealed that mothers with autistic offspring have a tendency to reflect patterns of brain activity usually characteristic of men.

While Prof Baron-Cohen blames the increased prevalence of autism to there being more opportunities for systemizers to meet or be thrown together. He says conferences, jobs and more women finding their way into these analytical professions has meant that more children born of such coupling could be autistic. Given that it is a lifelong problem of being socially maladjusted for such offspring, the study is likely to make likeminded “systemizers” to think twice before they take their relationships further.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/5179.html

Related Links


- The National Autistic Society - Home (http://www.nas.org.uk/)

- Autism Society of America (http://www.autism-society.org/)

- University of Cambridge (http://www.cam.ac.uk/)

- ADC Online - Archives of Disease in Childhood (http://adc.bmjjournals.com/)

[Mary Carol]

Jazakallah khayr for the link to this thread brother.

I had a woman professor who was head of the Biotechnology Department at my college who's experience certainly supports this claim.

She recounted that at the professional conferences she attended, and Science Departments she participated in both as a PHd teaching or managing, and as a student, there were a preponderance of behaviors and personalities that fit into the Autistic spectrum.

She said it made for fascinating conversations if you were interested in that particular person's specialty, but that any social conversation was a strain on their abilities.

She did say that many of these colleagues came from families of academia.

Glad to see that for some Autistics, a niche where they can be both challenged and contented is possible though.

Makes you think twice though about the cliche of "The Nutty Professor".