Autism, Cancer Links: People With Autism Have Lower Cancer Risks, Says Study

A new study has discovered that people with autism have lowered cancer risk. Despite having more oncogenes mutation, or cancer-causing genes, as a result of their disability, the experts learned that those in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are less likely to develop cancer.

The study, which was facilitated at the University of Iowa and published in the journal Plos One, analyzed data from patients with autism. The researchers compared the DNA of 1,837 patients with ASD against the DNA of the controlled group that's composed of 9,336 patients who have other diseases. They looked for the proportion of cancer diagnosis in these groups.

The experts found out that only 1.3 percent of patients with autism or ASD had cancer diagnosis, while the number was higher in the controlled group at 3.9 percent. They also saw that younger people with autism have strong immunities against cancer disease, but this effect seemingly decreases as they age, per Science Daily.

Past Researches On Autism And Cancer Links

Several researchers have cited in the past that genes in relation to autism could overlap and mutate, thus boosting cancer development. Below is a video detailing previous studies on autism and cancer links:

However, the new study's findings imply that this is not the case after all. "What we've shown is that this overlap is much broader at the genetic level than previously known and that somehow it may translate into a lower risk of cancer," said study author Benjamin Darbro.

New Study Could Provide Better Treatments For Autism, Cancer

Darbro's team also found out that diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, or conditions like allergies and heartburn have no links to the autism genes. However, the study has some limitations in that the researchers have no idea what's causing this protective effect.

Darbro hopes that their findings could shed light on newer and better ways to improve and manage either autism or cancer. Other studies are already carrying out cancer treatment clinical trials on people with autism, per Daily Mail.