Autism Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically characterized by impaired social and communication skills combined with repetitive movements.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically characterized by impaired social and communication skills combined with repetitive movements.
‘The study provided evidence that the genetic factors leading to the development of autism may also express in physical characteristics, which leads to our understanding of the interplay between genes, physical and brain development in humans.’
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The research team from ECU, UWA and Telethon Kids Institute have previously found children on the autism spectrum were more likely to have greater facial asymmetry than non-autistic children. This is important because better understanding of facial characteristics of autistic people contribute to efforts for early identification and help to understand hereditary (or genetic) causal links.
Genetic factors are known to play a major role in autism however there is growing evidence that environmental factors, such as hormones or maternal health, could also influence development of the condition.
Quiz on Autism
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex genetic disorder that impairs social, behavioral, and communication functions in humans. Autistic people may act, communicate, interact, and learn differently than most other people. ASD usually begins in childhood and can last for the rest of a person's life, though symptoms may improve over time
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex genetic disorder that impairs social, behavioral, and communication functions in humans. Autistic people may act, communicate, interact, and learn differently than most other people. ASD usually begins in childhood and can last for the rest of a person's life, though symptoms may improve over time
They found parents of children on the autism spectrum had more asymmetric faces than other adults of a similar age.
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New Skill Test for Autism Spectrum Disorder People
A new study showed key differences in the ways individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) processed or reacted to stimuli compared to those who were more neurotypical.
A new study showed key differences in the ways individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) processed or reacted to stimuli compared to those who were more neurotypical.
“These findings suggest there could be a link between the genes which affect the likelihood of an individual having greater facial asymmetry and autism,” he said.
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Rare Variants in Genes may Raise the Risk of Autism
Researchers have identified a rare class of genetic differences transmitted from parents without autism to their affected children with autism and determined that they are most prominent in multiplex families.
Researchers have identified a rare class of genetic differences transmitted from parents without autism to their affected children with autism and determined that they are most prominent in multiplex families.
“When we compared those scores, we saw that faces of parents of autistic children were more likely to have higher asymmetry compared to other adults.”
A new way of looking at autism
According to Dr Diana Tan, the project’s lead author and a Postdoctoral Research Associate at UWA and Telethon Kids Institute, the research helps increase our understanding of autism.
“Autism is not traditionally known to be a condition with distinctive facial features, but our research has challenged this notion,” she said.
“We previously examined another facial marker – facial masculinity – that was associated with autism. The next step of this project would be to evaluate the usefulness of combining facial asymmetry and masculinity in determining the likelihood of autism diagnosis.”
The project was a collaboration between researchers from ECU, The University of Western Australia, and Telethon Kids Institute.
‘Facial asymmetry in parents of children on the autism spectrum’ was published in Autism Research.
Source-Eurekalert
