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In support of AFAB

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A recent publication in the Lancet was dedicated to clinical recommendations to support autistic females at birth. Because more males than females are diagnosed with autism, their needs are often misunderstood, misinterpreted, or just ignored. Researchers, clinicians, scientists, parents and self-advocates from around the world joined together to identify those needs and propose solutions that can be implemented in everyday care. To read the article in it’s entirety, click here: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1i5LV8Mut2Mzvb

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Suicide, self-harm and genetics in autism

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This week’s podcast covers two new papers of interest to the autism community. First, another study showing increase in self harm and suicide in those with autism – no new news there – but a new discovery this week showed a vulnerability of females with a diagnosis. The study also explores the lower rate of suicide in those with IDD but higher rate of self harm in this same group. Second, the mystery of autism genetics is slowly unveiled. Why is rare variation so influential in an autism diagnosis? As it turns out those with rare variation also have common variation, piling on the genetic liability in this group. Common variation is also uniquely linked to language delay in autism, so is this a core feature? Links below are the scientific articles as well as resources to support those dealing with mental health problems in the autistic community.

Mental health links:

https://vkc.vumc.org/assets/files/resources/mental-health-toolkit.pdf

https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/cundill-centre/depression-and-autism-full-pdf.pdf

https://www.yorku.ca/health/lab/ddmh/wp-content/uploads/sites/407/2021/04/Mental-Health-Literacy-Guide-for-Autism_Section-9.pdf

https://www.azrieli-anc.com/autism-mental-healthhttps://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/suicide#How%20do%20I%20get%20help%20and%20support

Articles:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808056

Genetics study is OPEN ACCESS: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2215632120?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed

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Animal models can explain heterogeneity

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Just like no two people are the same, no two strains of mice are the same. Using dozens of different strains of mice with and without a genetic mutation associated with autism called CHD8, researchers at University of Southern California showed great variability in the effect of this mutation on behaviors associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. This can reflect the great differences across people with autism and even people with a rare genetic syndrome associated with autism. It isn’t just one gene, it’s the other hundreds of genes that can contribute to susceptibility or resilience to different features of NDDs. One thing this study did not do was overlay environmental factors, which will also significantly influence the variability seen across the different background genetics in these mice.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36738737/

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The Meaning of Microglia

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We normally focus on the function of brain cells that send signals to eachother and communicate across small or long distances, which show differences in ASD. However, we rarely pay attention to the other cells in the brain. One type of cell, called the microglia, has been shown to not only help “pick up the garbage” of the brain, but also shape these connections that occur between brain cells. This week @DavidMenassa1 from @QueensCollegeOx, @UniofOxford, @unisouthampton published a paper in @Dev_Cell that looks at how microglia shape the brain during critical periods of development, and what this means for ASD. We are grateful he shares his expertise (and a beautiful accent) with us this week.

Check out the paper HERE:

https://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/fulltext/S1534-5807(22)00546-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1534580722005469%3Fshowall%3Dtrue 

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Passing as Non-Autistic

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You may know this as “masking” or “camouflaging” where autistic adults intentionally or unintentionally hide their autistic features to pass as non-autistic because they want to hide some of their challenges. This week, Drs. Erin Libsack and Matthew Lerner from Stony Brook University summarize a systematic review on this behavior. The original goal was to develop their own studies, but as it turns out, there are still so many unanswered questions to deal with that were unearthed from this systematic review.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34505231/

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Gender difference update

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Girls and boys with autism generally show the same symptoms of ASD overall, but what about different aspects of features? What would happen if you studied girls and boys separately and examined detailed assessments of things like motor skills, repetitive behavior, communication or social interaction? These are where subtle signs of differences between genders is showing up. Girls show a higher age of diagnosis, but that depends on cognitive ability. Also, girls with ASD seem to have superior social interaction skills, which reflects normal gender differences. These differences are magnified over time. A new study also looks at Vitamin D levels during pregnancy and outcome in boys vs. girls…..the results are still unclear but interesting.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33137209/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33135392/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33136459/