Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder, which causes qualitative impairments in various aspects of the social development. Pregnancy onset at a higher age of the mother and a higher exposure...Show moreAutism is a pervasive developmental disorder, which causes qualitative impairments in various aspects of the social development. Pregnancy onset at a higher age of the mother and a higher exposure to prenatal testosterone can have a negative association with the social development of children. However, it’s unknown if children develop even more negatively when both factors are present. This study focuses on the impact of both factors independently and the interaction of both factors on the social development of normally developed children. The impact of the age of pregnancy onset on the social development of children, was measured with the Social Responsiveness Scale in 245 mothers (M = 30.34, SD = 4.75) and their children (M = 3.46, SD = 0.51). Exposure to prenatal testosterone was studied with the 2D:4D ratio in a subsample of 47 mothers and children (M = 3.46, SD = 0.22). First the age of pregnancy onset of the mother was studied and second the exposure to prenatal testosterone. Third, the impact of both factors on the social development was studied in 46 three year old normally developed children. Results showed no significant effects for the age of pregnancy onset and only a negative tendency for prenatal testosterone exposure. Thereby, results showed an interaction effect with both factors present on the social development of children. We concluded that the social development in three year old normally developed children was more impaired when both factors were present. These insights bring more understanding to the impact of various prenatal factors on the social development in normally developed children.Show less
Abstract Background. This study examines the relationship between hormonal parameters of puberty development and fetal testosterone levels with the presence of autistic symptoms, especially the...Show moreAbstract Background. This study examines the relationship between hormonal parameters of puberty development and fetal testosterone levels with the presence of autistic symptoms, especially the deficits in cognitive empathy in boys with high functioning autism (HFA) between nine and nineteen years old. According to several theories, hormones are involved in the etiology and behavioral characteristics of ASD in later life, such as problems with cognitive empathy. Method. In 45 HFA boys and 41 non-clinical boys, the degree of autistic symptoms is defined by the ADI-R and the SRS, and cognitive empathy is determined by the SCVT. Saliva samples are taken to determine testosterone, DHEA and estradiol levels. The fetal testosterone level was determined using the 2D:4D ratio. Results. Levels of fetal testosterone were significantly higher in HFA boys compared to non- clinical controls. Also, there is a connection between the fetal testosterone levels and cognitive deficits in cognitive empathy on the scale ‘discriminating perspectives’ in HFA boys. Higher scores are associated with higher fetal testosterone levels. Further research should incorporate the influence of mediating genes and neural structures, and should investigate the influence of hormones over a longer period, to assess the influence of hormones during social development.Show less
