Autism and Growth Hormone in Boys

In 2007, some very interesting infomration was revealed in a study conducted by several leading American research entitites, two of them in Ohio:

• National Institutes of Health,
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and
• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

In short, the boys in this study that experienced autism had higher levels of growth hormone, had larger heads, and were heavier than boys of like age and body type that did not have autism.

NOTES:

At the same time, the University of Wisconsin reports that Retts Syndrome (Autism Spectrrum Didorder) occurs at a much higher rate among girls than boys. Thus, not all "autisms" are of higher incidence among boys.

It is also found that in 10% of cases, Autism happens becuase of something unrelated to the womb and genetics.

The autistic brain is, on average, larger and heavier than a "normal" brain.

These results tend to duplicate findings of previous research that found extremely rapid early head growth in infants that were later diagnosed with autism. The circumference of their heads were larger than like infants of age and size that did not have autism.

The researches of the current, later study revealed that boys with autism showed significantly higher levels of two hormones that regulate growth, called insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2. They also showed higher levels of other hormones and these were related to growth as well.

While there was no different in average height between the two groups of boys (71 with autism and 59 without), the autistic group was the significantly the heavier of the two groups. The autistic group was not maturing more quickly, as confirmed by bone assessments, but they were heavier.

This research may show that in addition to testosterone, additional hormones (growth hormones) are at higher levels in the bodies of autistic boys. Testosterone was, in fact. not measured in this research.

Not enough girls with autism could be found to participate in this particular study.

(Note: There is also evidence that bones of autistic boys are longer and thinner than those of non-autistic boys, because of calcium and Vitamin D deficiency from lack of dairy products in the diet. Many autistic children insist on eating only certain foods on a daily basis and very often, not milk or its related products).

REFERENCE materials: NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (2007, June 27). Boys With Autism, Related Disorders, Have High Levels Of Growth Hormones.

The NAS has long examined with wonder the higher incidence of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders among boys than in girls.

According to researchers Attwood (2000), Ehlers and Gillberg (1993) and Wing (1981), girls with Asperger's Syndrome are often not ever seen by a doctor for the condition and likely simply written off as more quiet and reserved than other girls, less disruptive. it is thought that girls' better verbal skills may mask the condition as well. In fact, research Skuse in 2001 found that science may consider Asperger's syndrome as the far end of the "maleness" side of the gender spectrum.

Back in 1987, Lord and Schopler listed many potential genetic operations that may result in autism besides an X chromosome anomaly, including non-sex-linked chromosomes. It is felt overall, that many genes and chromosomes may yet be found to account for the range of behaviors and disorders along the Autism Spectrum Disorders path and Autism, deemed more severe than ASD.