Examining sex differences in autism: genes, brain and health care.
The study
Autism is more common in men than in women. There are several reasons why this may be so. It may have to do with biological factors, such as that men are more susceptible to developing autism. But social factors may also play a role, such as that autism is less likely to be recognized in women. The SCANNER project was started to investigate how biological and environmental factors influence this. In doing so, we are trying to answer the following questions: "Why are there more autistic men than women?", and "Are there sex differences between autistic men and women?"
Women are often not diagnosed until later in life. As a result, they take longer to receive recognition and help, which can affect their lives. In the past, research on autism has mainly been done on male participants and animals. Therefore, we want to give equal attention to both women and men in our research. By investigating biological factors and the behavior of autistic women, we want to make diagnostics for women more sensitive. This will allow better recognition of autism in women. We are also looking at direct differences between women and men in how autism manifests itself, so that help for each autistic person can be improved.
Genetics looks at people's chromosomes and therefore examines gender - the biological differences between men and women. But gender, how people show their gender in society, is also important in autism. In fact, we see that gender diversity is common among people with autism. Therefore, we want to investigate how gender identity and autistic traits are related. By looking at differences in gender norms and, for example, hiding autistic traits, we want to better understand how biological and social factors work together. By examining sex and gender directly in autism, we can improve care for everyone with autism.
Collaboration
The SCANNER project is a collaboration between several Dutch universities, medical centres, organisations and companies, and will run from January 2024 to January 2030. The project looks at autism from multiple perspectives and disciplines. Different groups work on genetics (the study of genes), early life factors, brain structures (the construction of the brain) and functions, behavioural research and phenotypes, and diagnostics. The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Amsterdam UMC collaborate with the NAR on some of these studies.
Ongoing research
- Genetic research into sex differences. Because DNA plays a major role in the development of autism, it is plausible that some sex differences come from genetics. We study whether women have certain collections of genes that make them more susceptible to autism. We are also looking at how genes are linked to certain autistic traits. For example, women may be genetically predisposed to express autism differently.
- The development of motor skills and autistic traits. The development of motor skills (the skills to move your body) and autistic traits may cause autistic children to explore their interests differently. An autistic child may like reading about football more than playing himself. There may also be differences between girls and boys. We want to find out whether atypical brain development in autism causes abnormal motor development, or whether autistic traits such as specific interests are the cause of different motor development.
- Online Measuring Autism and motor screening. Objective screening methods (ways of examining autism) that are less dependent on a psychiatrist are being sought. This could include online tests, as in the Online Measuring Autism (OMA) study. It also looks at biological features, such as differences in movement in people with autism. The advantage of these methods is that they are less influenced by social factors. This allows for a fairer diagnosis of autism without gender stereotypes.
Participation
This project will use DNA data collected within the EGAL study. We are linking these data to data already collected previously from the NAR.
Questionnaires will also be added to the annual NAR questionnaire during the course of the study. So, as a NAR participant, you can contribute to the SCANNER survey by participating in the annual NAR questionnaire!
In the future, panels with NAR participants are planned for this project. Here, small groups of autistic people will be invited to talk about the survey, and there will be room for questions and comments.
