Neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD disproportionately affect men, with some guys who love four times more likely to be diagnosed as girls.
Theories suggest that this gender gap may be because male brains are more sensitive to changes during development, and girls can be better to hide signs or show them in different ways.
Now, a new study published in The European Journal of Neuroscience has discovered a shocking bond among PFAs, also known as “chemicals forever – and autism in men.
Scientists gave pregnant mice a short -chain PFA type called PFHXA, a chemical that is still widely used, although it has been restricted in some parts of the world.
Moms were fed with small doses, similar to those that people could find in their daily lives, and when their puppies grew, male mice showed clear changes in behavior.
They were less active, more anxious and had problems with memory, while female mice did not seem to be affected.
“Although these effects were slight, finding effects of behavior only was a reminiscence of the many neurodeveloped disorders that are skewed by men,” said Ania Majewska, a neuroscience teacher at Rochester University, in a statement.
“This finding suggests that the male brain may be more vulnerable to environmental insults during neurodevelopmental.”
Until recently, PFHXA was considered a “safer” replacement for older and more notorious chemicals as long as they have been eliminated.
But this study suggests that we may have just changed one problem for another, especially when it comes to protecting developing male brains.
“Finding exposure to development in PFHXA has long -term behavioral consequences on a mammal model refers to the consideration of short chain PFAs, they are believed to be more secure alternatives to the inherited PFAs that have been eliminated from production,” said the main author of the study Elizabeth Plunk.
“Understanding PFHXA impacts on the development brain is essential when they propose regulations around this chemical. We hope this is the first of many studies that evaluate PFHXA neurotoxicity.”
The findings, while in mice, suggest that we have to take a scientific look closer to the link between forever chemicals and autism.
“This work points to the need for more research in short chain PFA. According to our knowledge, PFHXA has not been evaluated for neurobehal toxicity of development in a rodent model,” Majewska said. )
“Future studies should evaluate the cellular and molecular effects of PFHXA, including the specific effects of the cell type, in regions associated with motor, emotional/fear domains and memory to elucidate mechanical underground.”
The PFAS, synthetic substances that persist in the environment and the human body, have been compared to “slow poisons” that can increase the risk of certain cancers, fertility problems, liver damage and development delays in children.
There are more than 4,700 PFAs, which are used to make items resistant to water, fat and spots.
They can be found in food containers, cooking utensils, waterproof clothing, fire fighting foam, certain personal care products and, more recently, beer.
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