Clues to Autistic Behaviors: Exploring the Role of Endocrine Disruptors

Two lines of evidence suggest that endocrine disruption may be a factor in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). First, the observa­ tion that males may be four times as likely to be diagnosed with ASDs as females suggests hormonal involvement. Second, adrenal, gonadal, and thyroid hormones play an important role in fetal neuro development, and any chemical that interferes with the actions of these hormones therefore has the potential to disrupt brain development. By analyzing samples and data from a prospective birth cohort study, a team of U.S. and Canadian researchers have identified a handful of endocrine­disrupting chemicals (EDCs) they believe merit further study as possible contributors to ASDs. ASDs encompass a complex set of disorders that have been associated with more than 800 potential genetic risk factors, says Isaac Pessah, associate dean of research and graduate education at the University of California, Davis, who was not involved with