Genes associated with a greater risk of developing autism may also be linked with higher intelligence, a study suggests. Researchers have found new evidence linking genetic factors associated with autism to better cognitive ability in people who do not have the condition.
The relationship between autism and intelligence is unclear, researchers say. Although up to 70 percent of individuals with autism have an intellectual disability, some people with the disorder have relatively well-preserved, or even higher than average, non-verbal intelligence.
Autism is a developmental disability that can cause significant language and speech difficulties. Non-verbal intelligence enables people to solve complex problems using visual and hands-on reasoning skills requiring little or no use of language.
Better Cognitive Ability
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Queensland analyzed almost 10,000 people recruited from the general population of Scotland. Individuals were tested for general cognitive ability and had their DNA analyzed.
The team found that even among people who never develop autism, carrying genetic traits associated with the disorder is, on average, linked to scoring slightly better on cognitive tests.
Researchers found further evidence of a link between autism-associated genes and intelligence when they carried out the same tests on 921 adolescents who were part of the Brisbane Adolescent Twin Study.
Dr Toni-Kim Clarke, of the University of Edinburgh’s Division of Psychiatry, who led the study, said:
“Our findings show that genetic variation which increases risk for autism is associated with better cognitive ability in non-autistic individuals. As we begin to understand how genetic variants associated with autism impact brain function, we may begin to further understand the nature of autistic intelligence.”
Professor Nick Martin, of the Queensland Institute for Medical Research, said:
“Links between autism and better cognitive function have been suspected and are widely implied by the well-known “Silicon Valley syndrome” and films such as “Rain Man” as well as in popular literature. This study suggests genes for autism may actually confer, on average, a small intellectual advantage in those who carry them, provided they are not affected by autism.”
Reference:
- T-K Clarke, M K Lupton, A M Fernandez-Pujals, J Starr, G Davies, S Cox, A Pattie, D C Liewald, L S Hall, D J MacIntyre, B H Smith, L J Hocking, S Padmanabhan, P A Thomson, C Hayward, N K Hansell, G W Montgomery, S E Medland, N G Martin, M J Wright, D J Porteous, I J Deary, A M McIntosh. Common polygenic risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with cognitive ability in the general population. Molecular Psychiatry, 2015; DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.12
Last Updated on January 5, 2023