Systemizing is genetically correlated with autism and is genetically distinct from social autistic traits

Warrier, V.; Toro, R.; Chakrabarti, B.; iPSYCH-Broad Autism Group,; Borglum, A.; Grove, J.; the 23andMe Research Team,; Hinds, D.; Bourgeron, T.; Baron-Cohen, S.

doi:10.1101/228254

bioRxiv · 10.1101/228254

Systemizing is genetically correlated with autism and is genetically distinct from social autistic traits

Warrier, V.·Toro, R.·Chakrabarti, B.·iPSYCH-Broad Autism Group,·Borglum, A.·Grove, J.·the 23andMe Research Team,·Hinds, D.·Bourgeron, T.·Baron-Cohen, S.

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Abstract

The core diagnostic criteria for autism comprise two symptom domains - social and communication difficulties, and unusually repetitive and restricted behaviour, interests and activities. There is some evidence to suggest that these two domains are dissociable, yet, this hypothesis has not been tested using molecular genetics. We test this using a GWAS of a non-social autistic trait, systemizing (N = 51,564), defined as the drive to analyse and build systems. We demonstrate that systemizing is heritable and genetically correlated with autism. In contrast, we do not identify significant genetic correlations between social autistic traits and systemizing. Supporting this, polygenic scores for systemizing are significantly positively associated with restricted and repetitive behaviour but not with social difficulties in autistic individuals. These findings strongly suggest that the two core domains of autism are genetically dissociable, and point at how to fractionate the genetics of autism.

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Warrier, V., Toro, R., Chakrabarti, B., iPSYCH-Broad Autism Group,, Borglum, A., Grove, J., the 23andMe Research Team,, Hinds, D., Bourgeron, T., Baron-Cohen, S.. 2017-12-03. Systemizing is genetically correlated with autism and is genetically distinct from social autistic traits. https://doi.org/10.1101/228254

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