Genomic, Transcriptomic, and Regulomic Analyses Do Not Support Profound Autism as a Distinct Biological Category
Eicher, T. D.; Ne'eman, A.; Quackenbush, J. D.
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The Lancet Commission on the Future of Care and Clinical Research in Autism proposed the construct of "profound autism" as a recognizable subtype of autism. Supporters argue that this classification is necessary to ensure that autistic persons with severe impairment receive appropriate research attention and policy support, whereas critics contend that the construct lacks scientific validity and may reflect social or political considerations more than biological distinction. To inform this debate, we evaluate whether the proposed "profound autism" category represents a distinct genetic phenotype using multiple molecular data types collected in a large cohort. Across genomic, transcriptomic, and regulatory analyses, we find no evidence supporting "profound autism" as a biologically distinct phenotypic group. Instead, differences emerge primarily in inferred gene regulatory networks distinguishing nonspeaking from speaking autistic children, suggesting potential regulatory mechanisms contributing to speech ability. These findings suggest that future research into severe impairment may be more productive if focused on specific traits--such as speech impairment--rather than attempting to define a distinct biological subtype within the multidimensional phenomenon of autism.
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