Autism study not about screening.

A fascinating and ground-breaking study has just been published by researchers from Cambridge University showing that higher levels of testosterone in the womb predispose children to autism spectrum disorder.

This study was reported in the Guardian in a generally excellent article.  Reporter Sarah Boseley did a nice job explaining autism, the study and its importance.  She quotes one of the study's lead authors as saying, "The study highlights for the first time the association between foetal testosterone and autistic traits, and indicates that foetal testosterone not only masculinises the body, it masculinises the mind and therefore the brain."  The researchers theorize that autism is an example of an "extreme male brain."

However, the article misses the mark when it begins speculating about the possibility of developing screening tests for autism based on this research.  Not only did the authors never suggest this possibility, but this type of screening seems unrealistic and ethically questionable.   

This study has strong implications for furthering our understanding of autism, a disease that is becoming increasingly prevalent and for which causes are largely still unknown.  Additionally, it raises the question of whether environmental pollutants that mimic testosterone may also affect autism risk -- a point I would have liked the reporter to cover in the story. To speculate about potential for prenatal screening tests detracts from the real significance of this research.