May 01, 2023
- According to a new Swedish study, men with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities) also have an increased risk of testicular cancer or seminoma. This research focused on patients with testicular cancer and compared them to men without the disease. The authors used medical register data to investigate if psychiatric diagnoses and neurodevelopmental disorders before cancer diagnosis were more common in patients with testicular cancer than in the nonaffected control group. The study did not find an increased risk of testicular cancer in patients with a psychiatric diagnosis. However, men with developmental disorders saw a significant increase in the risk of the seminoma type of testicular cancer.
- New research indicates a bidirectional relationship between gastrointestinal problems and internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal) in children and teens with autism. The team behind this study analyzed data collected from parental reports of individuals with ASD under the age of 18 that also suffered from gastrointestinal issues. The authors propose that stress signals from the brain can alter the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine in the gut, which control gastrointestinal motility. The study suggests that stress can impact the balance of bacteria living in the gut, altering gastrointestinal functioning. When this happens, the gut then sends signals back to the brain that may lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal.
- An article in the Los Angeles Times reports that 22% to 83% of children with autism also meet the criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Conversely, 30% to 65% of children with ADHD have traits of autism. Psychotherapists call this condition “AuDHD” and specialize in working with clients who experience some combination of both disorders.
- Researchers from the Family and Community Intervention Lab at the University of Arkansas recently studied the aggressive behaviors of children both on and off the spectrum at three critical developmental periods (younger than 6, 6-12, 13-17). They discovered that parents of children with autism reported more frequent aggression at greater intensities than neurotypical children. The study’s analysis showed higher levels of verbal aggression and disruptive behavioral intensity for children on the spectrum across all three stages of development. Children with autism younger than 6 had more significant levels of physical aggression than children without the disorder. However, these levels became equal to neurotypical peers as the children aged. The authors also found that children without the disorder more frequently expressed anger in a controlled manner, whereas children with autism were more prone to quickly losing their temper.
- The U.S. Department of Labor reports that at least 85% of adults on the spectrum with a college education are unemployed. Additionally, the Department of Labor revealed that of the estimated 477,000 job applicants considered “discouraged workers” (i.e., someone eligible for employment and can work but currently unemployed), 7010 have autism. Hiring practices that do not grasp the symptoms of autism are often the cause of unemployment for those on the spectrum.
