BackHome
Refresh: OffView Personal Schedule
Individual Submission Summary
Share...

Direct link:

Poster #47 - Hormonal imbalance among women with and without autism

Sat, March 23, 12:45 to 2:00pm, Baltimore Convention Center, Floor: Level 1, Exhibit Hall B

Integrative Statement

Introduction
Autism is as a neurodevelopmental condition, which occurs as a result of complex interactions between genetic and non-genetic risk factors (Lai, Lombardo & Baron-Cohen, 2013). It is characterized by difficulties in social communication and unusually restricted or repetitive behavior and interests (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The etiology of autism is not yet known, although it clearly has a genetic and biological basis (Lai et al., 2013; Kim & Leventhal, 2015). One clue to the etiology comes from the robust sex bias in the diagnosis of autism– it is diagnosed more frequently in males than in females with a ratio of 2-4:1 (Lai, Lombardo, Auyeung, Chakrabarti & Baron-Cohen, 2015). This sex bias implicates the sex-hormone system in the etiology of autism. Establishing such a connection can give insight into the biological underpinnings of autism.
The current study examined the connections between autism and hormonal imbalance, measured by relative frequency of testosterone-related disorders, symptoms, and abnormalities at puberty. We hypothesized that prevalence of hormonal conditions, hormonal symptoms and abnormalities at puberty would be higher among women with autism compared to controls.

Method
963 women volunteered to participate in the study, of those, 276 diagnosed with autism. The participants reported whether they had an autism diagnosis, as well as their autistic tendencies using the autism spectrum quotient (AQ; Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright, Skinner, Martin & Clubley, 2001). Furthermore, participants answered an on-line questionnaire regarding endocrine-related conditions and symptomology; onset and symptoms of puberty; reproductive health, medical diagnoses, and physical symptoms related to hormonal-imbalance; physical health as reflected in current weight and height.
28 disorders and symptoms were grouped into six factors using an exploratory factor analysis: diabetes and diabetic indicators (including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type II diabetes); fertility-diagnoses (including anovulation, PCOS, PMS, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer); diagnoses of the immune system (including autoimmune disorder, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism); diabetes-symptoms (including extreme thirst and frequent need to urinate); excessive menstruation symptoms (including unusually painful periods and excessive menstrual bleeding); hyperandrogenism-symptoms (including hirsutism, hair loss or thinning, severe acne and sudden, unexplained weight loss). Additional predictor variables were irregularity of puberty symptoms, menstrual length, and menstrual consistency. Together, nine predictors were used.
Results
A binomial logistic regression was performed to investigate the relationship between age, and the above described variables on the likelihood to have an autism diagnosis. Five were statistically significant: age (ß=.030, p<0.01); irregularity of puberty symptoms (ß=-.679, p<0.01); diabetes and diabetic indicators (ß=.511, p<0.05); diabetes-symptoms (ß=-.388, p<0.01); and fertility-diagnoses (ß=-.239, p<0.05).
Next, a hierarchical regression was performed to investigate the relationship between the predictors and AQ scores. Six were statistically significant: age (ß=-.203, p<0.01); BMI (ß=.117, p<0.05); diabetes-symptoms (ß=3.124, p<0.01); irregularity of puberty symptoms (ß=5.438, p<0.01); excessive menstruation symptoms (ß=1.423, p<0.05); hyperandrogenism-symptom (ß=1.800, p<0.01).

Conclusions
Women with autism are at increased risk for conditions and symptoms linked to hormonal imbalance, and more specifically to testosterone-related conditions. Furthermore, type 2 diabetes and its symptoms are less prevalent among women with autism in comparison to controls.

Authors