Originally posted on Atasteofcreole's Blog:
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27662080
Exposure to high levels of “male” hormones in the womb increases the chance of a baby boy developing autism, according to researchers.
The University of Cambridge researchers say their findings from more than 300 boys help unravel the causes of autism – a condition that affects both sexes but is far more common in males.
But they say it does not mean a prenatal test for autism is near.
Nor will it necessarily be possible to stop autism by blocking the hormones.
“Because some of these hormones are produced in much higher quantities in males than in females, this may help us explain why autism is more common in males” - Prof Baron-Cohen Study author
The hormones in question – testosterone and three other steroid hormones – were important for foetal development, which meant it could be too risky to block them, they told the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Autism…
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