Autism Behaviors May Differ in Boys and Girls
Study also found gender differences in brains of children with the disorder
In the MRI results, researchers saw differences in certain parts of the brain, including those related to movement, between boys and girls with autism. However, no differences were seen in girls and boys without autism.
The scientists also discovered differences in the gray matter in different parts of the brain between girls and boys among those with autism and more severe repetitive symptoms.
"Our findings indicate that the brains of girls with autism are structured differently from those of boys with autism, and that some of these differences are linked to sex differences in behavioral impairments that characterize autism," Supekar said.
This discovery may have implications for differences in treatments for autism based on brain structure variations between the sexes, said Mayra Mendez, of Providence Saint John's Child and Family Development Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Mendez is a program coordinator for intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health services.
"Treatment for girls may best focus on building behavior skills that support social interactions and social communication as most important to remediate autism spectrum disorder behaviors in girls," Mendez said.
"Targeting repetitive and restrictive behavior patterns by applying motor- and sensory-based strategies may generate positive behavioral change in boys presenting with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders," she added.
But, not everyone agreed that the study's results may have any implications for treatment, at least not yet, suggested Dr. Glen Elliott, chief psychiatrist and medical director of Children's Health Council in Palo Alto, Calif.
"The sample size is small -- 25 children in each group -- and the finding is not especially dramatic," Elliott said. "It is impossible to know how much these findings might apply to autism spectrum disorders more broadly. And the link between brain findings and behavioral observations may merely reflect correlation, not causation," Elliott said.
"This is basic research that tells us something, hopefully, about brain function in individuals with autism, but it does not speak to treatment," Elliott said. "Still, it is a wonderful example of the types of research that finally are enabling researchers to delve more deeply into what, exactly is different about the brain of an autistic individual."