The autism spectrum among transgender youth: default mode functional connectivity.

Researchers studied brain scans of 45 transgender young people with varying levels of autism traits. They found that those with autism showed different brain connection patterns, particularly in the 'default mode network' - a brain system active during rest. Young people with some autism traits but not a full diagnosis showed brain patterns that fell between non-autistic and autistic groups. These brain differences were related to autism traits specifically, not to gender identity struggles or mental health symptoms.

This neuroimaging study examined brain connectivity patterns in 45 transgender youth across three groups: non-autistic, slightly subclinically autistic, and full-criteria autistic. Using resting-state functional MRI, researchers found that default mode network (DMN) hub connectivity patterns differed between groups, with autistic participants showing hyperconnectivity to visual and motor networks. The slightly subclinically autistic group showed unique connectivity patterns, falling between the other two groups in DMN hub connectivity to attention and sensorimotor networks. Autism traits correlated with similar connectivity patterns.

Notably, internalizing symptoms, gender dysphoria, and gender minority stigma did not influence connectivity differences, suggesting the observed patterns are specifically related to autism characteristics.

Findings support the validity of autism diagnoses in transgender youth and highlight the importance of assessing subthreshold autism traits. Results suggest neuroimaging could potentially aid autism assessment, though clinical utility requires further validation. Clinicians should consider autism screening in transgender youth populations.

Small sample size of 45 participants limits generalizability. Study design unclear from abstract. Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences. Limited to transgender youth population, reducing broader applicability. Unclear methodology for autism subgroup classification.

The common intersection of autism and transgender identities has been described in clinical and community contexts. This study investigates autism-related neurophenotypes among transgender youth. Forty-five transgender youth, evenly balanced across non-autistic, slightly subclinically autistic, and full-criteria autistic subgroupings, completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine functional connectivity. Results confirmed hypothesized default mode network (DMN) hub hyperconnectivity with visual and motor networks in autism, partially replicating previous studies comparing cisgender autistic and non-autistic adolescents.

The slightly subclinically autistic group differed from both non-autistic and full-criteria autistic groups in DMN hub connectivity to ventral attention and sensorimotor networks, falling between non-autistic and full-criteria autistic groups. Autism traits showed a similar pattern to autism-related group analytics, and also related to hyperconnectivity between DMN hub and dorsal attention network. Internalizing, gender dysphoria, and gender minority-related stigma did not show connectivity differences. Connectivity differences within DMN followed previously reported patterns by designated sex at birth (i.e. female birth designation showing greater within-DMN connectivity).

Overall, findings suggest behavioral diagnostics and autism traits in transgender youth correspond to observable differences in DMN hub connectivity. Further, this study reveals novel neurophenotypic characteristics associated with slightly subthreshold autism, highlighting the importance of research attention to this group.