Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant disturbances in social-communicative and behavioral functioning. The symptoms change over the child’s life and into adulthood. This complex brain condition presents at around age two with a core set of symptoms that include unusual ways of relating to people, language development and delays, and repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. However, the tempo of Autism can be managed through several applied therapeutic as well as medical interventions. The entire management depends on the early detection and identification of Autism.
Dermatoglyphic traits are a clinical marker for many neurodevelopment disorders and chromosomal aberrations. The morphogenesis of dermatoglyphic patterns and neural tissues originates from the ectodermic layer within the 1st and 2nd trimesters of gestation; from this stage onwards, they are unaffected by the environment. The present study attempted to understand the relationship between palmar dermatoglyphic traits and Autism.
To achieve this purpose, bilateral palm prints of 100 (67 males and 33 females) diagnosed as Autistic participants and 100 (55 males and 45 females) healthy controls have been collected according to the standard method from the Bengalee Hindu caste population of West Bengal. In the present case-control study Palmar Axial Triradii, atd angle, and Abnormal Palmar Flexion Crease (APFC) was incorporated as dermatoglyphic traits.
The results demonstrated the significant (p<0.05) presence of multiple numbers (double) of axial triradii (t & t') in a single palm, wider atd angle, and occurrences of APFCs on the left and right hands of the autistic males and females than those of control males and females.
Based on the results, it can be concluded that the palmar axal triradii, atd angle, and APFC, can potentially determine Autism in a very early stage of a newborn and can help to manage the intensity through early prognosis and diagnosis as well.
