Girls protected from autism, study suggests
- Date:
- March 24, 2014
- Source:
- Spectrum
- Summary:
- It takes more mutations to trigger autism in women than in men, which may explain why men are four times more likely to have the disorder, according to a study.
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It takes more mutations to trigger autism in women than in men, which may explain why men are four times more likely to have the disorder, according to a study published 26 February in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
The study found that women with autism or developmental delay tend to have more large disruptions in their genomes than do men with the disorder. Inherited mutations are also more likely to be passed down from unaffected mothers than from fathers.
Together, the results suggest that women are resistant to mutations that contribute to autism.
Read the full article here: https://spectrumnews.org/news/girls-protected-from-autism-study-suggests/
Story Source:
Materials provided by Spectrum. Original written by Jessica Wright. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Sébastien Jacquemont, Bradley P. Coe, Micha Hersch, Michael H. Duyzend, Niklas Krumm, Sven Bergmann, Jacques S. Beckmann, Jill A. Rosenfeld, Evan E. Eichler. A Higher Mutational Burden in Females Supports a “Female Protective Model” in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 2014; 94 (3): 415 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.02.001
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