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Exposure to high levels of "male" hormones in the womb increases the chance of a baby boy developing autism, according to researchers.
The University of Cambridge researchers say their findings from more than 300 boys help unravel the causes of autism - a condition that affects both sexes but is far more common in males.
But they say it does not mean a prenatal test for autism is near.
Nor will it necessarily be possible to stop autism by blocking the hormones.
The hormones in question - testosterone and three other steroid hormones - were important for foetal development, which meant it could be too risky to block them, they told the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27662080
The University of Cambridge researchers say their findings from more than 300 boys help unravel the causes of autism - a condition that affects both sexes but is far more common in males.
But they say it does not mean a prenatal test for autism is near.
Nor will it necessarily be possible to stop autism by blocking the hormones.
The hormones in question - testosterone and three other steroid hormones - were important for foetal development, which meant it could be too risky to block them, they told the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27662080