Autism: genetics, early detection and the ethics of screening newbornsAutism: genetics, early detection and the ethics of screening newborns
All In The Mind
News of the largest studies on the genetics of autism to date is out, paving the way for genetic risk testing in the future. And, Australian research suggests autistic behaviours can be detected as early as eight months. So should we be screening newborns for neurological disorders like autism? The ethical debate unfolds on All in the Mind.
29:58•16 May 2009
Autism, Baby Brains and the Big Question of Newborn Screening
Episode Overview
- Large genetic studies link rare variants affecting brain cell connectivity, including cadherin-10, to an increased likelihood of autism in some cases.
- Behavioural signs linked to autism can appear from around six to twelve months, particularly in eye contact, shared affect and interest in social games.
- Developmental surveillance over time is presented as more effective than a single screening test for identifying children who may need extra support.
- Experts warn that expanding newborn screening without clear treatments and follow-up plans can leave families distressed and uncertain.
- Early, relationship-based interventions may boost language and social development, but the long-term impact on brain development is still being studied.
“It seems naive to think that a blood test can do anything more than tell you whether or not somebody has a vulnerability or a trait for developing autism.”
How do people manage co-occurring mental and physical health issues while recovering? Here, the focus is autism: what causes it, how early it can be spotted, and whether we should be checking newborns for it at all. Hosted by Natasha Mitchell, this episode brings together geneticist Professor Halken Halkenarsson, developmental psychologist Associate Professor Cheryl Dizanayka, and paediatric neurologist Associate Professor Jennifer Kwan for a wide-ranging look at autism science and ethics.
You’ll hear about huge new genetic studies that sifted through thousands of genomes and hundreds of thousands of genetic markers, highlighting variants linked to brain cell connectivity. Halkenarsson explains how a gene called cadherin‑10, “critical in the process of enabling the nerves to connect to each other”, seems especially active in brain regions often associated with autism. Dizanayka shifts the focus to behaviour.
She describes how subtle signs in babies as young as six to nine months – like whether they smile and look at you at the same time, or show excitement in games like peekaboo – can flag social communication differences long before speech develops. She backs routine developmental surveillance and earlier support, stressing that “it’s much better to intervene with a child and assist their development” than to wait.
Kwan, meanwhile, raises serious concerns about expanding newborn screening to more and more neurological conditions, especially where treatments are uncertain or experimental. She warns that families may assume screening means clear answers, when often “we basically don’t know what to say to them or how to follow them.” The tone is thoughtful, curious and sometimes confronting, and it’s ideal if you’re interested in autism, parenting, ethics, or how far modern medicine should go in predicting future health.
It might leave you asking: if we can test earlier and earlier, how should we use that knowledge responsibly?
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