Fetal androgens and autism

Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism

Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the etiologies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but evidence of specific environmental exposures and susceptibility windows is limited. Here we study monozygotic and dizygotic twins discordant for ASD to test whether fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation increases ASD risk. Using validated tooth-matrix biomarkers, we estimate pre- and post-nat...

Sex Hormones in Autism: Androgens and Estrogens Differentially and Reciprocally Regulate RORA, a Novel Candidate Gene for Autism

Autism, a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder manifested by deficits in social behavior and interpersonal communication, and by stereotyped, repetitive behaviors, is inexplicably biased towards males by a ratio of ∼4∶1, with no clear understanding of whether or how the sex hormones may play a role in autism susceptibility. Here, we show that male and female hormones differentially regulate th...

The biochemical basis and treatment of autism: Interactions between mercury, transsulfuration, and androgens

Impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, abnormal movement patterns, and sensory dysfunction characterizes autism spectrum disorder (ASDs). It has long been recognized that there is a genetic component to some ASDs, but recent studies have also suggested that some ASDs are triggered by environmental factors. Mercury exposure can cause immune, sensory, neurologi...

Understanding the Importance of the Evaluation and Treatment of Elevated Androgens in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Fetal Androgens and Human Sexual Orientation: Searching for the Elusive Link

In the article targeted by this Commentary, Breedlove (2017) chronicles the progression of his thinking about hormonal influencesonhumanbehavior, includingsexualorientation,across the span of his career. He considers the question in terms of expectations, based on what has been known at various points in time, versus theaccumulationofdata topresentday.Hebroadlyframes his argument within the com...