Impact of autism genetic risk on brain connectivity: a mechanism for the female protective effect.

ABSTRACT: The biological mechanisms underlying the greater prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in males than females remain poorly understood. One hypothesis posits that this female protective effect arises from genetic load for autism spectrum disorder differentially impacting male and female brains. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the impact of cumulative genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder on functional brain connectivity in a balanced sample of boys and girls with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing boys and girls (127 youth, ages 8-17). Brain connectivity analyses focused on the salience network, a core intrinsic functional connectivity network which has previously been implicated in autism spectrum disorder. The effects of polygenic risk on salience network func

SUBMITTER: Lawrence KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8967090 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature