Why are males more likely to get autism?
How many males have autism compared to women?
There is no easy answer. Various studies have suggested that the ratio of men to women with autism ranges from 2:1 to 16:1.
In 1943, Leo Kanner’s famous study found that there were four times as many boys as girls with autism.
Hans Asperger carried out research in 1944 and concluded that no females were affected by Autism, although he later changed his mind.
In 1981, Lorna Wing found that boys were fifteen times more likely to have higher functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome than girls. She also found that in people with autism and learning disabilities, the ratio was 2:1 boys to girls.
More recent research has found similar results. In 1993, a large study of Asperger Syndrome in Sweden by Ehlers and Gillberg found that the ratio was 4:1. Whilst in 2009, Brugha found that in England, 1.8% of males had autism and 0.2% of females. In 2015, the National Autistic Society found that in adult services, the ratio was 3 men to one women, whereas in their charity schools, it was 5 boys to 1 girl.
Why does this difference in male/female levels of autism vary?
Research is being carried out at Toronto’s Hospital by Dr Scherer and his team. They have been looking at this. They have found that the males who have a genetic alteration in their X-chromosome have a higher risk of developing ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). They found that 1% of boys with ASD had this mutation in their X-Chromosome. Although 1% does not sound a great deal, it is a starting point to look at this. The mutation is found in the PTCHD1 gene in the X-chromosome. Girls are different in that even if they do not have the PTCHD1 gene, they will have the second X-chromosome which could protect them from ASD. This could protect the woman, but not necessarily future generations of boys born into their family.
Another theory is the Female Autism Phenotype. This suggests that women with autism do not “fit” into the usual profile we associate with autism, so autism may not be diagnosed, causing women with autism to not be recognised as having autism. One way to change this is for diagnostic tools to be changed to fit women and men.
Another theory is that boys are more susceptible to organic damage that girls, so they are more likely to develop autism if there is an organic cause (Rimland, 1964).
Women may also be better at hiding their difficulties that boys.
Autism traits may also be under-reported by teachers of girls than boys.
Any or all of these factors could cause a lower diagnosis of autism in females compared to males.
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[26/04/2024 19:57:52]
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