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Cited by 208Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchSexual Differentiation and DisordersNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior

Foetal testosterone and autistic traits in 18 to 24-month-old children

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Auyeung, Bonnie, Taylor, Kevin, Hackett, Gerald, Baron-Cohen, Simon·2010·Molecular Autism
DOI 10.1186/2040-2392-1-11PMC PMC2916006
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum conditions have been characterised as an extreme presentation of certain male-typical psychological traits. In addition, several studies have established a link between prenatal exposure to testosterone and cognitive sex differences in later life, and one study found that foetal testosterone (FT) is positively correlated to autistic traits in 6 to 10 year-old children. In this study, we tested whether FT is positively correlated with autistic traits in toddlers aged 18-24 months. METHODS: Levels of FT were analysed in amniotic fluid and compared with autistic traits, measured using the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in 129 typically developing toddlers aged between 18 and 24 months (mean +/- SD 19.25 +/- 1.52 months). RESULTS: Sex differences were observed in Q-CHAT scores, with boys scoring significantly higher (indicating more autistic traits) than girls. In addition, we confirmed a significant positive relationship between FT levels and autistic traits. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings in children between 18 and 24 months of age are consistent with observations in older children showing a positive association between elevated FT levels and autistic traits. Given that sex steroid-related gene variations are associated with autistic traits in adults, this new finding suggests that the brain basis of autistic traits may reflect individual differences in prenatal androgens and androgen-related genes. The consistency of findings in early childhood, later childhood and adulthood suggests that this is a robust association.

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  • Elevated prenatal androgens have been strongly associated with ASD risk for more than a decade.

    “For example, elevated prenatal androgens have been strongly associated with ASD risk for more than a decade (26–35) leading some to hypothesize that EDCs that alter androgen action may be contributory.”

    From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [28]

    The Results and Conclusions report a positive association between foetal testosterone and autistic traits, which the paper describes as robust. But the Methods specify that the study examined typically developing toddlers, not ASD diagnoses or risk; the cited passages also do not establish the claim’s “for more than a decade” duration. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Auyeung, B., Taylor, K., Hackett, G., & Baron-Cohen, S.
Affiliations
  • Addenbrooke's Hospital (GB)
  • Rosie Hospital (GB)
ORCID
Taylor, Kevin
Venue
Molecular Autism
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2010
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
11
ISSN
2040-2392 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/2040-2392-1-11
PMC
PMC2916006
OpenAlex
W2148000302
Cited by
208
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 21
FWCI
8.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Molecular Autism (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • Medical Research Council
  • Trinity College, University of Cambridge
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Keywords
autistic traits, autism spectrum disorder, prenatal androgen exposure, amniotic fluid, toddlers, sex differences, sex steroids

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