The truth about the connection between genius and autism

In recent years, people often refer to the connection between autism and genius qualities. It makes some people have optimistic belief that children with autism have many opportunities that are genius. However, the truth is completely different.

The misunderstanding began when modern scientists published research showing that autism appears in some of the world's most famous geniuses such as Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Ludwig van Beethoven, Mozart, Hans Christian. Andersen .

Psychiatry professor Michael Fitzgerald, Trinity University in Ireland, thinks that autism-related traits are similar to traits that people often see in geniuses.

He also considered about 1,600 people with autism and many famous people in history to affirm that the connection between autism, creativity and genius originated from genes.

Previously, Dr. Hans Asperger, a scientist who recognized autism in the 1940s, once wrote: "Autistic people can step up to prominence and achieve outstanding success that makes people even conclude. that only such people are able to achieve such great achievements . "

This observation by Hans Asperger was judged by the New York Post to be quite true because it proved that prodigies like Blaise Pascal and Fanny Mendelssohn may have benefited from a hidden link to autism.

The article on this page of the prodigy analysis often does not have autism, but studies show that some characteristics related to autism help them to rise to the top in their professional fields.

Accordingly, the article summarizes many studies, taking these research results to prove that prodigies and autistic people have a lot in common.

For example, a passion for a particular field, an extraordinary memory, an eye of strange observation . They affirm the hidden link between prodigy and autism beyond the overlap in behavior and awareness.

People with autism have many manifestations of cognition and behavior similar to prodigies, but not all autistic people become outstanding geniuses.(Photo: buddymantra)

Besides, through a study in 2015, scientists identified an area on chromosome 1 of the prodigy and their relatives with autism all had genetic mutations.

Meanwhile, the University of Edinburgh study found that adults who are not autistic but genetically linked to many genetic variants of autism often have better cognitive functions than others.

However, from these studies, many people deduced that all people with autism became geniuses. Although sometimes there are experts who speak out to correct this misconception, the belief of autism = genius still exists and spreads.

Mr. Amanda Batten, expert of the British National Autism Association, said: "Not all autistic people are capable of being outstanding geniuses."

In addition, in fact, only 5 - 10% of people with autism have what is called a "smart ability", such as the ability to listen to music and fight back without knowing the spectrum or drawing every detail. of the building even seeing it only once. But most other people with autism are not.

There is a homologous mutation but autism and prodigy have different neurological connections.(Photo: parade.)

Recently, psychologist Joanne Ruthsatz, author of The Prodigy's Cousin, from Ohio State University also conducted a study of the prodigy.

After examining the DNA of the prodigies and their family members, she found that half of the prodigies are related to relatives with autism quite close like grandparents to granddaughters. term"More than 50% of child prodigies have one or two relatives with autism, " the female scientist said.

She also found evidence that both child prodigies and autistic relatives contained mutant genes or mutations that appeared in short fibers of chromosome 1. However, this mutation did not share the relationship in terms of nervous that share a personality.

She revealed: "What we are looking for is a sign of genetics that possesses and their autistic relatives are not ." Joanne Ruthsatz interviewed on March 15 said that, according to her, how different the nerves of the two subjects could be found could lead to better treatment for people with autism.

Such an analysis to see that autism is not a manifestation of genius, prodigy as many people are misunderstanding even though they are related and many similar expressions.