Girls and boys with autism differ in behavior, brain structure

http://ekaweb02.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/sumc-gab090115.php

Public Release: 3-Sep-2015
Girls and boys with autism differ in behavior, brain structure
Stanford University Medical Center

Girls with autism display less repetitive and restricted behavior than boys do, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

The study also found that brain differences between boys and girls with autism help explain this discrepancy.

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Repetitive and restricted behavior is perhaps the most widely recognized of the three core features of autism. It can show up as a child's preoccupation with a narrow interest, inflexibility about routines or repetitive motions such as hand-flapping. The other core features of autism are social and communication deficits.

Among children diagnosed with the high-functioning form of autism, boys outnumber girls by four to one. Scientists were interested in comparing the expression of core features of the disorder between sexes because they have long suspected girls with autism may display symptoms differently, causing them to be underdiagnosed or making it harder for them to get the most appropriate treatment.

"Autism has primarily been studied from the viewpoint of boys with the disorder," said Menon, who holds the Rachael L. and Walter F. Nichols, MD, Professorship. "Understanding gender differences can help in identifying the behavioral skills that are most important to remediate in girls vis-a-vis boys."

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