Genetic and morphological estimates of androgen exposure predict social deficits in multiple neurodevelopmental disorder cohorts

Abstract

Abstract Background Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display a strong male bias. Androgen exposure is profoundly increased in typical male development, but it also varies within the sexes, and previous work has sought to connect morphological proxies of androgen exposure, including digit ratio and facial morphology, to neurodevelopmental outcomes. The results of these studies have been mixed, and the relationships between androgen exposure and behavior remain unclear. Methods Here, we measured both digit ratio masculinity (DRM) and facial landmark masculinity (FLM) in the same neurodevelopmental cohort (N = 763) and compared these proxies of androgen exposure to clinical and parent-reported features as well as polygenic risk scores. Results We found that FLM was significantly associated with NDD diagnosis (ASD, ADHD, ID; all $$p<0.05$$ p < 0.05 ), while DRM was not. When testing for association with parent-reported problems, we found that both FLM and DRM were positively associated with concerns about social behavior ($$\rho =0.19$$ ρ = 0.19 , $$p=0.004$$ p = 0.004 ; $$\rho =0.2$$ ρ = 0.2 , $$p=0.004$$ p = 0.004 , respectively). Furthermore, we found evidence via polygenic risk scores (PRS) that DRM indexes masculinity via testosterone levels ($$t=4.0$$ t = 4.0 , $$p=8.8\times 10^{-5}$$ p = 8.8 × 10 - 5 ), while FLM indexes masculinity through a negative relationship with sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels ($$t=-3.3$$ t = - 3.3 , $$p=0.001$$ p = 0.001 ). Finally, using the SPARK cohort (N = 9419) we replicated the observed relationship between polygenic estimates of testosterone, SHBG, and social functioning ($$t=-2.3$$ t = - 2.3 , $$p=0.02$$ p = 0.02 , and $$t=4.2$$ t = 4.2 , $$p={3.2\times 10^{-5}}$$ p = 3.2 × 10 - 5 for testosterone and SHBG, respectively). Remarkably, when considered over the extremes of each variable, these quantitative sex effects on social functioning were comparable to the effect of binary sex itself (binary male: $$-0.22\pm 0.05$$ - 0.22 ± 0.05 ; testosterone: $$-0.35\pm 0.15$$ - 0.35 ± 0.15 from 0.1%-ile to 99.9%-ile; SHBG: $$0.64\pm 0.15$$ 0.64 ± 0.15 from 0.1%-ile to 99.9%-ile). Limitations In the devGenes and SPARK cohorts, our analyses rely on indirect, rather than direct measurement of androgens and related molecules. Conclusions These findings and their replication in the large SPARK cohort lend support to the hypothesis that increasing net androgen exposure diminishes capacity for social functioning in both males and females.