A recent study underscores a significant variance in the heritability of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) between genders, highlighting that males exhibit a higher genetic predisposition to ASD than females. This groundbreaking research, detailed in JAMA Psychiatry on April 17, offers new insights into the genetic factors influencing ASD.
Dr. Sven Sandin and his team at Karolinska Institutet conducted a comprehensive retrospective analysis involving non-twin siblings and cousins from Sweden born between 1985 and 1998, tracking their development up to the age of 19. The study meticulously estimated the differences in ASD risk attributable to sex-specific genetic factors, environmental influences, and other residual elements that contribute to behavioral diversity.
The research encompassed a substantial cohort of 1,047,649 individuals across 456,832 families. Findings revealed that 1.17% of the sample was diagnosed with ASD, with a higher incidence among males (1.51%) compared to females (0.80%). The data further demonstrated that heritability rates for ASD were notably different between genders—87.0% in males and 75.7% in females.
Notably, the study found negligible evidence of shared environmental factors affecting ASD risk. This suggests that the more pronounced male vulnerability to ASD could stem predominantly from genetic differences. The implications of these findings are profound, offering a pathway to more tailored research and potentially, interventions that address these genetic underpinnings. This study opens vital new avenues for exploring how gender-specific genetics influence the prevalence and characteristics of ASD, enhancing our understanding and approach to this complex disorder.