Genes Linked to Social Impairments
May 14, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
A new study in the May 15th Biological Psychiatry has found genetic links to the “impaired social behaviors” of autistic children. Researchers from Yale University studied six genes “known to be involved in maternal and affiliative behaviors”; they suggest that two neurohormones which are linked to affiliative behaviors in animals, prolactin and oxytocin, are linked to affiliative behaviors characteristic of autism. From Science Daily:
….One aspect of an autistic child’s impaired social abilities is their lack of affiliative behaviors, i.e., behaviors such as touching and hugging that strengthen social bonds……
n this study, Yale University researchers recruited, genotyped, and clinically assessed a large sample of autistic children and their families. They specifically examined the genetic variants in six genes known to be involved in maternal and affiliative behaviors. Dr. Elena Grigorenko, the senior author, discusses their study, “Animal studies have taught us that genetic factors can play a crucial role in the development of close affiliative ties.
“With the help of Yale’s Autism Center of Excellence, led by Drs. Ami Klin and Fred Volkmar, and many families of individuals with ASD, we have registered a possible association between some of the genes identified in animal studies as controlling affiliative behaviors in ASD.” The strongest statistical findings of the study implicate the prolactin gene, the prolactin receptor gene, and the oxytocin receptor gene in these affiliative behavior deficits.
Since he was a baby, Charlie has not been one to shrink from carrying and hugs and physical contact. He does seem very unsure about what sorts of physical gestures and contact to make to other people. He has been learning some, such as how to get someone’s attention when they are not looking at you and can’t hear you. He watches other children (often standing off to the side, looking out of the corners of his eyes) and seems to like to be around them, but rarely (as in never, pretty much) approaches them.
Last night Charlie and I went to the pool and he must have climbed the steps 25 times to go down the water slide. (Well, that’s what it felt like; I go up with him.) There were lots of children of many ages in the pool and we stayed for almost two hours, about twice as long as we usually do. Charlie often found himself splashing near a heavyset boy and the boy’s sister, who was preoccupied in throwing a pink ball to her dad who was sitting on a bench. Charlie was humming as he tends to do amid the noise of the pool and all the swimmers there (including the very competitive swim team) and the other boy seemed to be talking to Charlie, and then imitating Charlie’s underwater athletics, and then observing Charlie. The other boy got out and walked towards the stairs; Charlie got out, told me “I want green slide” and we ascended right on the heels of the other boy.
The other boy sat down to ride the green slide. Charlie walked close to him and tapped him very lightly on the chest, then walked over to the yellow slide, sat down, and both boys (both completely absorbed in the water shooting off the water slie) slid away when the lifeguard gave the word.
I went down the steps with a memory pouring back in: Charlie was 2 1/2 years old and we were walking by the Mississippi River at the end of Summit Avenue in St. Paul. There was a child a few months younger than Charlie and he started to follow the other child around, somewhat to the alarm of the parents who, a little nervously, started to move the stroller away and their child too.
It’s something to see Charlie make contact with another child.
Parallel play? How wonderful!
Regarding abuse: are NJ advocates and adocates of Autism everywhere vocal about background checks that are not connected federally? In the Commonwealth of MA for example, criminal registry information (CORI) are only for crimes committed in the Commonwealth and not in other states. It seems like incidents of abuse from paid supporters have origins in limited background checks.
I have to admit that, in terms of abuse, I’m not all fully updated as to background checks. It’s certainly an interesting question.
Cliff
Getting to see those social connections happen always makes me feel I’ve taken parenting crack. Go Charlie go!
Social skills are something we continue to help my son strengthen. He really likes being around other children, especially when they’re doing group social physical activities that he can participate in, such as running around the yard, teeter-tottering, trampolining, and dog-piling. But he is still working on getting individuals’ attention without accidentally alarming them. We used to have weekly facilitated playgroups at our house, but stopped due to the complications of the new year and new school schedule. Now, due to his love of music, I am considering hosting a facilitated musical play group instead, as he will have very good opportunities for social and general success, and will love it so much. Plus his sisters can participate and have fun *with* their brother.
The NY Daily News suggests that oxytocin could be a kind of “love potion # 9.”
@Linda, I have to check about federal background checks. I once (long time ago) applied for a part-time job in NJ public schools and, before being hired, was finger-printed and had a background check done on me. (Nothing terribly exciting at all.)
“Long time ago…” I doubt anyone fingerprints, etc. today except for a high level state government post, etc. Not for teachers and certainly not for paras (aides, van drivers, etc.).
Advocates need to assure background checks are far reaching (federal( and timely. What background check does NJ require for a van driver for example?
Run away parenthesis!
It was 7 years ago. I suspect it hasn’t changed; will check, too.
This certainly strikes close to home. Though my boys have no problems with hugs and touching, they do lack the skills to approach people appropriately. And I am at a loss how to teach them as I suffer the same problem. I used to think I was just shy.
This is a pet peeve of mine, i.e. the inability to recognize how many autistic kids (and adults) are very affectionate. After all, these are the same people who needs lots of proprioceptive input. And of course, for other (autistic) people, if someone is sensitive in a sense, they might be “to sensitive” to take it from a source that might do something unexpected.
I should mentionm, I’m all for oxytocin. Some might dispute this, but I’ve trained myself to realize when it’s been release (that way I can attempt to regulate it while not letting my emotions run away with me).
Whey do the drug companies waste their time researching genetic links to ASD when the obvious link is Mercury? Here’s a study I just conducted. I studies the four states with the hightest Autism rates and found that all 4 states had a very high levels of Mercury in the environment:
Top 4 States:
Oregon:
“China’s Mercury flushes into Oregon’s rivers”
http://tinyurl.com/65pr45
“The largest, mercury polluter in the USA is from Eugene, Ore, Ash Grove Cement Co., Durkee, Baker County, Ore.”
http://tinyurl.com/55mx8w
Minnesota: “Minnesota has more lakes and river miles than any other state.” Conclusion: I suppose they eat more fish and I guess that means more mercury in the body.
Maine: Mercury levels in Maine fish, loons, and eagles are among the highest in North America.
http://tinyurl.com/6dpq5t
Indiana: “Indiana ranks fourth nationwide in mercury emissions, most of which come from coal plants, according to the state’s Sierra Club chapter.”
http://tinyurl.com/6jookb
Conclusion: States that have high amounts of Mercury in the environment have the highest autism rates. Vaccines plus mercury in the environment is most likely the high rate of Autism in these states.
While this is interesting, I’d like to see a study where the parents are tested as well. I know a number of families with a kid on the ASD spectrum and usually one (or both) of the parents display traits similar to the child (living near both CalTech and JPL, geniuses with quirks abound.