Increase Testosterone
The director of the Autism Research Centre, Simon Baron-Cohen recently revealed his findings regarding a link between autism and the hormone testosterone. Autism is defined as a disorder of the brain that affects communication. When a person is diagnosed as autistic, their various parts of the brain fail to work together. This makes it difficult for an autistic person to relate to others.
Scientists have been working feverishly to figure out the causes of autism. Many believe that autism is genetic and work is being done to locate the gene that causes the disorder. Also, there have been many studies regarding the link between autism and vaccinations, in particular the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. No studies have been able to prove this theory as fact.
The newest research, being conducted by Baron-Cohen finds that those with autism tend to have a larger amount of the hormone testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone that stimulates the development of the male sex hormones. It is noted that a larger number of males are diagnosed with autism than females.
The research, which is being conducted at Cambridge University, indicates that autistic children tend to have higher levels of testosterone even prior to birth in the womb. The high levels of testosterone affect the way the brain works. These children usually have less empathy for others and a smaller vocabulary, but they also have a higher ability to process details and patterns.
The study was conducted by following 235 women from pregnancy. The women had amniocentesis and testosterone levels were noted. The Centre then followed these women beyond pregnancy to see how the children developed. Those children with high levels of testosterone were more apt to have a smaller vocabulary and low empathy skills, typical autistic symptoms. The study concludes that testosterone has a large effect on how the brain develops.
Professor Baron-Cohen thinks that society must shift its opinion of autism as being a disease or a disorder to just being a different style brain. The research being conducted to “cure” autism should instead be focused on ways to teach and develop the autistic brain. Through his Autism Research Centre, he has developed a program that enables autistic children to learn about their emotions using a computer. He feels that the computer provides an easier format for those with autism to process what they learn.
Neuropsychologist, Simon Baron-Cohen has been studying autism for the last two decades. He is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at Cambridge University. He is also the Director of Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre and a Fellow of Trinity College. He is the author of many books and research studies including “Autism and Asperger Syndrome: The Facts”.