According to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine, autism has gender differences. Researchers have found that girls and boys with autism have different brain tissue and, therefore, different symptoms.
Northern California, CA (Merxwire) – There are nearly 67 million people with autism globally, accounting for 1% of the total population, and one in every 54 people in the United States is autistic. Research shows that boys have a higher rate of autism than girls. Still, according to the latest research, the number of men and women with autism is not only different but also very different in behavior patterns! If only a single criterion is used to judge, It is very likely to miss the golden early treatment time for autistic girls.
According to a new study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine has found that the brain tissue of boys and girls with autism differs, with girls having less pronounced autism symptoms than boys, with less repetitive behavior, and fewer language barriers.
The researchers analyzed 773 children with autism, including 637 boys and 136 girls, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans. Girls with autism had different connectivity patterns than boys in several brain centers—for example, motor, language, and visuospatial attention systems. Among them, the primary motor cortex, auxiliary motor area, parietal and lateral occipital cortex, and the middle temporal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus have the most significant differences, resulting in fewer repetitive behavior patterns in autistic girls which may easily lead to delays in physician diagnosis.
Although every child with autism has different symptoms, in this study, the researchers used a new calculation method that can effectively distinguish the gender of autistic patients. When the calculation method was tested on typically developing children, it was impossible to tell whether it was male or female. Scientists have thus confirmed that autism has unique gender differences. The researchers of this project believe that the results of this study will help more girls with autism diagnosed and treated.
Autism is not a disease but a neurophysiological disorder that affects the development of the brain, which in turn affects the ability to interact with people, including language, communication, cognition, and adaptability. Sometimes it is accompanied by highly repetitive fixed behaviors and interests. With the advancement of medical care, most children with autism can be diagnosed when they are about three years old. As long as you grasp the golden treatment period before the age of 6, the earlier you start receiving rehabilitation treatment, the greater the help for autistic children.