Autism Study Uncovers Unique Brain Development Patterns by Sex

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A recent study examined cortical thinning in autistic children, revealing distinct differences influenced by birth sex. Historically, autism research has skewed towards males, impacting our understanding of cortical development differences. This study aimed to address this gap by including autistic and non-autistic children in their analysis.

The research analyzed brain scans from 290 autistic children (202 males, 88 females) and 139 non-autistic children (79 males, 60 females), tracking cortical thickness from ages 2 to 13. At age 3, autistic females showed thicker cortex in certain regions than non-autistic females, whereas differences were less pronounced among males. By age 11, sex-based cortical differences became less evident, with variations observed primarily over time.

Throughout childhood, autistic females displayed more rapid cortical thinning in specific regions involved in motor control, attention, problem-solving, and adaptive responses. In contrast, autistic males showed less rapid thinning in these regions than their non-autistic counterparts. Conversely, in emotional and behavioural response areas like the limbic network, autistic males exhibited faster thinning, while autistic females showed slower thinning compared to non-autistic peers of the same sex.

The study underscores the need to explore how biological factors linked to sex influence autism development. It acknowledges that biological traits can be influenced by chromosomes, hormones, and societal norms related to assigned sex and gender. The findings also highlight the importance of considering transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals in future research on autism and sex differences.

Further investigation is necessary to grasp the implications of these findings fully. Understanding how sex differences in brain development intersect with autism may elucidate diverse developmental outcomes among boys and girls with the condition, potentially informing more nuanced approaches to diagnosis and treatment in clinical settings.