World’s first head transplant system proposed: Is ‘BrainBridge’ real or purely sci-fi fantasy?

MAY 22, 2024by Steve Fink

DUBAI — The molecular biologist who made headlines for his highly controversial “artificial womb” concept is once again turning heads with another eye-popping design: the world’s first head transplant system. Hashem Al-Ghaili, a Dubai-based scientist and filmmaker, now aims to help push forward the idea of transplanting a head onto a donor body for individuals suffering from cancer or paralysis. As farfetched as it looks and sounds, his recently released video explaining the tech, which he dubs “BrainBridge,” is already getting plenty of attention.

BrainBridge’s proposed head transplantation process involves attaching a patient’s head onto a brain-dead donor body, with the goal of preserving the patient’s consciousness, memories, and cognitive abilities. Al-Ghaili boldly asserts that the procedure could be available within eight years, thanks to the integration of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.

Video still showing the heads being removed from the patient’s and donor’s body, with the patient’s head being moved by the robotic surgical arms to the donor’s body. (Credit: BrainBridge)

“Every step of the BrainBridge concept has been carefully thought out based on extensive scientific research that has been conducted and published by experts in various fields of science,” he says in a statement. “The goal of our technology is to push the boundaries of what is possible in medical science and provide innovative solutions for those battling life-threatening conditions. Our technology promises to open doors to lifesaving treatments that were unimaginable just a few years ago.”

While the prospect of a potential way to avoid paralysis or early death from terminal diseases is undeniably tantalizing, the concept of head transplantation is laden with ethical dilemmas. The procedure raises fundamental questions about personal identity, bodily autonomy, and the very definition of death. Would a person with a transplanted head still be considered the same individual? What rights would the donor body have? These are just a couple of the thorny philosophical quandaries that arise when contemplating such a radical intervention.

A digital illustration of the BrainBridge head transplant process. (Credit: BrainBridge)

Moreover, the physical feasibility of head transplantation remains highly questionable. Despite BrainBridge’s claims of employing “advanced high-speed robotic systems” and “real-time molecular-level imaging,” the sheer complexity of the human nervous system presents formidable challenges. The spinal cord, a delicate bundle of nerves that transmits signals between the brain and the body, is notoriously difficult to repair once severed. Reconnecting the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels with the precision required for a successful head transplant is a feat that many experts believe is currently beyond the reach of medical science.

Even if the technical hurdles could be overcome, there are no shortage of post-operative challenges. The risk of rejection, whereby the recipient’s immune system attacks the donor body, is a significant concern. BrainBridge’s assurances of a “comprehensive post-operative care schedule,” which includes the patient remaining in a medically-induced coma for at least a month, would do little to allay fears of potentially life-threatening complications

Patient’s head set onto donor body during transplantation. (Credit: BrainBridge)

Nonetheless, Al-Ghaili released an eight-minute video (posted below) showing exactly how he envisions BrainBridge will work. The 3D animated clip, which feels more like a movie trailer, shows two robotic surgical machines with human-like arms and hands removing the head from the patient’s body and then placing it onto a previously brain-dead donor body. BrainBridge notes in the video that they believe a human brain could last “several hundred years provided that the rest of the body remains young.”

The video goes on to describe the process in detail, including how the system would reconstruct all of the detached spinal cord and other organs, nerves, blood vessels, etc. that were severed during the surgery. It also points out the lengthy rehabilitation that a patient would need to undergo afterward.

One commenter on the video wrote, “As a PhD in translational medicine, I see a lot of BS for attracting investments only. What ‘advanced real-time molecular [imaging] techniques’? How [do] they ensure 360° observation and manipulation during [the] procedure? There is a ton of research into autonomous, fully robotic suturing and ligation, but I don’t think there is one that could do what is required for this demo. Human anatomy might differ drastically, not only by size, but also blood vessel, muscle, etc structures.”

Another viewer commented, “We’re 100 years away from solving the complex connections required to pull this off.”

Al-Ghaili made headlines back in 2022 when he introduced the concept for “EctoLife” a facility that could house thousands of “artificial wombs” for women unable to carry a baby to term. He envisions technology that would allow parents to genetically engineer an embryo before implanting it into the artificial womb. This would allow them to design everything from eye and hair color to strength, height, and even intelligence. The idea was met with great skepticism as well as similar ethical questions, and many believed it to be a hoax.BrainBridge will likely see similar scrutiny, and already comments left on the video purport it to be nothing more than science fiction. Even so, we’d also expect there will be scientists, investors, and even prospective patients who would love to be at the forefront of such a revolutionary innovation.

BrainBridge head transplant surgery. (Credit: BrainBridge)

NASA's compact infrared cameras enable new science

by Karl B. HilleKarl B. Hille, NASA

Goddard engineer Murzy Jhabvala holds the heart of his Compact Thermal Imager

 camera technology – a high-resolution, high-spectral range infrared sensor suitable

 for small satellites and missions to other solar-system objects. Credit: NASA

A new, higher-resolution infrared camera outfitted with a variety of lightweight filters could probe sunlight reflected off Earth's upper atmosphere and surface, improve forest fire warnings, and reveal the molecular composition of other planets.

The cameras use sensitive, high-resolution strained-layer superlattice sensors, initially developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Their compact construction, low mass, and adaptability enable engineers like Tilak Hewagama to adapt them to the needs of a variety of sciences.

"Attaching filters directly to the detector eliminates the substantial mass of traditional lens and filter systems," Hewagama said. "This allows a low-mass instrument with a compact focal plane which can now be chilled for infrared detection using smaller, more efficient coolers. Smaller satellites and missions can benefit from their resolution and accuracy."

Engineer Murzy Jhabvala led the initial sensor development at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as well as leading today's filter integration efforts.

Jhabvala also led the Compact Thermal Imager experiment on the International Space Station that demonstrated how the new sensor technology could survive in space while proving a major success for Earth science. More than 15 million images captured in two infrared bands earned inventors, Jhabvala, and NASA Goddard colleagues Don Jennings and Compton Tucker an agency Invention of the Year award for 2021.

Data from the test provided detailed information about wildfires, better understanding of the vertical structure of Earth's clouds and atmosphere, and captured an updraft caused by wind lifting off Earth's land features called a gravity wave.

The groundbreaking infrared sensors use layers of repeating molecular structures to interact with individual photons, or units of light. The sensors resolve more wavelengths of infrared at a higher resolution: 260 feet (80 meters) per pixel from orbit compared to 1,000 to 3,000 feet (375 to 1,000 meters) possible with current thermal cameras.

The success of these heat-measuring cameras has drawn investments from NASA's Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), Small Business Innovation and Research, and other programs to further customize their reach and applications.

Jhabvala and NASA's Advanced Land Imaging Thermal IR Sensor (ALTIRS) team are developing a six-band version for this year's LiDAR, Hyperspectral, & Thermal Imager (G-LiHT) airborne project. This first-of-its-kind camera will measure surface heat and enable pollution monitoring and fire observations at high frame rates, he said.

NASA Goddard Earth scientist Doug Morton leads an ESTO project developing a Compact Fire Imager for wildfire detection and prediction.

The Compact Thermal Imager captured unusually severe fires in Australia from its perch on the International Space Station in 2019 and 2020. With its high resolution, detected the shape and location of fire fronts and how far they were from settled areas — information critically important to first responders. Credit: NASA

"We're not going to see fewer fires, so we're trying to understand how fires release energy over their life cycle," Morton said. "This will help us better understand the new nature of fires in an increasingly flammable world."

CFI will monitor both the hottest fires which release more greenhouse gases and cooler, smoldering coals and ashes which produce more carbon monoxide and airborne particles like smoke and ash.

"Those are key ingredients when it comes to safety and understanding the greenhouse gases released by burning," Morton said.

After they test the fire imager on airborne campaigns, Morton's team envisions outfitting a fleet of 10 small satellites to provide global information about fires with more images per day.

Combined with next generation computer models, he said, "this information can help the forest service and other firefighting agencies prevent fires, improve safety for firefighters on the front lines, and protect the life and property of those living in the path of fires."

Probing clouds on Earth and beyond

Outfitted with polarization filters, the sensor could measure how ice particles in Earth's upper atmosphere clouds scatter and polarize light, NASA Goddard Earth scientist Dong Wu said.

This applications would complement NASA's PACE—Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—mission, Wu said, which revealed its first light images earlier this month. Both measure the polarization of light wave's orientation in relation to the direction of travel from different parts of the infrared spectrum.

"The PACE polarimeters monitor visible and shortwave-infrared light," he explained. "The mission will focus on aerosol and ocean color sciences from daytime observations. At mid- and long-infrared wavelengths, the new Infrared polarimeter would capture cloud and surface properties from both day and night observations."

In another effort, Hewagama is working with Jhabvala and Jennings to incorporate linear variable filters which provide even greater detail within the infrared spectrum. The filters reveal atmospheric molecules' rotation and vibration as well as Earth's surface composition.

That technology could also benefit missions to rocky planets, comets, and asteroids, planetary scientist Carrie Anderson said. She said they could identify ice and volatile compounds emitted in enormous plumes from Saturn's moon Enceladus.

"They are essentially geysers of ice," she said, "which of course are cold, but emit light within the new infrared sensor's detection limits. Looking at the plumes against the backdrop of the sun would allow us to identify their composition and vertical distribution very clearly."

Provided by NASA 

NASA's PACE data on ocean, atmosphere, climate now available

Youths' attitudes in post-conflict Colombia reflect both cynicism and hope for peace, research finds

by Patrick Lejtenyi, Concordia University

Photo of La Candelaria, Bogotá. Credit: Michael Barón on Unsplash

Following numerous attempts at peace, in 2016, the Colombian government and the FARC, the largest left-wing guerilla group, signed a peace treaty. Although Colombians were deeply divided about the treaty's prospects when it was first signed, the agreement put an end to six decades of armed conflict in which hundreds of thousands of Colombians, 80% of them civilians, perished. When it came to the prospect of peace, skepticism and hope were at odds, including among the urban youth in Bogotá, Colombia's capital.

A newly published study of Colombian youths' perspectives on the conflict and its aftermath brings that skepticism and hope for restoration into focus. The paper, published in Political Psychology, was led by Laura Pareja Conto and Holly Recchia, a professor of education in the Faculty of Arts and Science.

The study revealed a deep cynicism regarding the peace accord, an overall disillusionment with the country's political system and distrust toward both the government and the FARC. However, it also showed that these youth generally supported the peace process, with 57% saying they hoped it would succeed.

They expressed strong feelings about the need to improve the lives of the conflict's victims, accountability for harm and ending a seemingly intractable cycle of violence.

Most students also expressed having a limited understanding of the history of the Colombian armed conflict, which the researchers noted is a possible point of intervention. The country aims to reconstruct a more inclusive narrative of the events and root causes that propelled the conflict.

Divided but hoping for the best

The data were gathered in 2018 from interviews with 77 adolescents at two high schools in Bogotá. The researchers chose public schools located in neighborhoods with lower to middle socioeconomic status to reflect the reality of the majority of the city's residents.

"At the time, Colombia was very polarized. The country was in the middle of a presidential election and the divide following the peace agreement plebiscite was still palpable," says Pareja Conto. "With this study, we aimed to go beyond this division to explore the concerns and tensions in how youth understand the armed conflict and peace process."

"We were not surprised by the levels of cynicism, given the history of the conflict in Colombia and the corruption that has plagued its different political systems and institutions," adds Recchia. "It reflects youths' apt understandings of their social realities. But we found that this cynicism was juxtaposed with their focus on improving the lives of people who were impacted, on restoring relationships and ending violence—this was the real take-home for us."

According to Colombia's truth commission, at least eight million Colombians were displaced between 1985 and 2019. Bogotá remains the country's largest receptor. To protect the participants' privacy and well-being, the researchers did not ask about their own personal experiences of the conflict.

They were asked about their knowledge of the conflict itself, the peace treaty and how it was being discussed in the public sphere. The students also described their conversations with others about the conflict and the peace process. All the questions were open-ended.

Each participant was presented with two hypothetical though realistic scenarios depicting harmful events that resulted in either loss of life or damage to infrastructure. They were asked how best to address these harms and to justify their proposals. Their answers were then codified and analyzed by the researchers.

The results were not meant to provide an authoritative portrait of Colombian youth, the researchers note. Rather, it was meant to provide a sociopolitical and psychological analysis of urban Colombian adolescents at a certain time and place.

Shared humanities

Pareja Conto acknowledges that her home country remains divided but has made significant strides in the years since the peace agreement was signed. Peace education initiatives are being implemented in Colombian schools, with possibilities for nuanced classroom discussions on difficult issues like justice and reconciliation.

The research could have relevance outside Colombia, given the unfortunate prevalence of conflict around the globe.

"The data make evident that even when people hold opposing perspectives, common ground can be identified. Across the political spectrum, youth are expressing underlying concerns about restoring those who have been harmed and ending cycles of violence," she says.

"It's a humane orientation to express empathy for people who have experienced profound loss, but beyond this, youth are very nuanced in their proposed optimal solutions for restoration and peace."

Contributing authors include Angelica Restrepo from Concordia University, Gabriel Velez from Marquette University, Roberto Posada-Gilede from Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Cecilia Wainryb of the University of Utah.

More information: Laura Pareja Conto et al, Urban Colombian youths' perspectives on the armed conflict and possibilities for ways forward, Political Psychology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/pops.12962

Provided by Concordia University Better pregnancy outcomes linked to reduction of armed conflict in Colombia

The Washington Post Tells Staff It’s Pivoting to AI

"AI everywhere in our newsroom."

 Futurism
/ Artificial Intelligence/ Ai/ Journalism/ Media

Image by Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty /

Already facing scandal, the Washington Post's new-ish CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, has announced that the newspaper will be pivoting to artificial intelligence to turn around its dismal financial situation.

As Semafor media industry editor Max Tani tweeted, Lewis told Post staffers today that the newspaper will be looking for ways to use AI in its reporting as it seeks to recoup some of the $77 million it lost last year.

"To speak candidly: We are in a hole, and we have been for some time," the CEO said, per an announcement. "This is all repairable, all doable, particularly if we do it together."

The paper's chief technology officer, meanwhile, announced to staffers that going forward, WaPo is to have "AI everywhere in our newsroom," according to Tani. It's unclear, however, what exactly that directive will entail.

A former NewsCorp executive who published the Wall Street Journal and was CEO of its parent company, Dow Jones, from 2014 until 2020, Lewis' short tenure at WaPo has already been plagued by controversy.

After being personally tapped by WaPo owner Jeff Bezos for the gig, Lewis began working as publisher of the newspaper at the beginning of 2024. Almost immediately, reports about NewsCorp's hacking scandal in the early 2010s, which involved the royal family and several celebrities, and which Lewis oversaw the response to, resurfaced. Along with it came new allegations published by the Daily Beast that he led a so-called "witch hunt" to find those responsible.

In another WaPo-related Tani scoop, Semafor reported today that the paper's editors sought to downplay Lewis' alleged participation in the coverup of the hacking scandal. Those reports came in light of a new UK ruling in a lawsuit brought by Prince Harry. Lewis and WaPo have both denied that he took part in any such coverup.

Notably, the newspaper's announcement about its new revenue-boosting efforts doesn't include any explicit mention of AI. Instead, it makes vague reference to experimentation with "new offerings over the next few months."

Coincidentally, news of WaPo's AI pivot comes the same day as the announcement of a landmark deal between NewsCorp and OpenAI that will allow the AI firm to use content from the conglomerate's properties, which include the WSJ, the New York Post, and the Times of London.

It's a big day for NewsCorp and a big day for AI — and a bad one, we reckon, for the media as a whole.

More on AI in media: Meet AdVon, the AI-Powered Content Monster Infecting the Media Industry

Female judges tend to hand down harsher sentences in cases involving sex offenses, finds study

by Cristina Sáez, Open University of Catalonia

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The Cannes Film Festival began a few days ago with nine women accusing the French producer Alain Sarde of raping or sexually assaulting them when they were minors or young actresses. If it reaches the courts, the sentence in this case will depend on the French penal code, but also on factors outside the law, such as the sex of the judges.

A study led by researchers from the Empirical and Applied Victimology (VICRIM) group in the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) concludes that in cases involving sexual offenses in which the victims are mostly women and minors, female judges tend to be more punitive than their male counterparts, especially when deciding upon the length of sentences.

The paper is published in the journal Criminology & Criminal Justice.

"The sex of the judges has an impact on sentences," said Laura Arantegui, a predoctoral researcher at the UOC and the lead author of the study, who pointed out that although "Spanish law is quite strict when it comes to determining penalties by type of crime, there are a number of human factors that can also affect sentencing. And one of them is the judges' sex."

Conditioned by gender roles

Over the last four decades, many more women have entered the judiciary, which was traditionally a male field. This has led to research into the influence that the sex of judges may have on the judicial decisions they make. Although being a man or a woman are not legal factors, they do have some impact on the sentences that are handed down, as a person is inevitably conditioned by the traditionally different roles played by the two sexes in society, which can lead to them having different points of view about vulnerable social groups.

Previous studies focusing on sex offenses committed against minors found that in courts with more than one judge, the length of the sentence increased by about 3.5 months for every additional woman on the bench.

In this recent study, the researchers at the UOC focused on cases involving sexual offenses committed between 2019 and 2020 that came to trial in Spanish provincial courts, which deal with offenses subject to prison sentences of more than five years, where the sentences are handed down by benches made up of three judges.

They reviewed more than 2,200 cases, which were mostly sex offenses and sexual abuse of women and minors, and they concluded that the sentences were harsher when there were more women on the bench. However, when the bench was composed exclusively of female judges, the sentence imposed also depended on other variables.

"When it comes to the length of sentences, women are tougher than their male counterparts, imposing longer sentences, which is not to say that they are fairer. However, we found no significant results in terms of the number of convictions. In other words, there are no differences between men and women when it comes to determining guilt, but the punishment they impose is heavier," explained Arantegui.

Greater empathy for victims

In view of the results obtained in this study, and based on the conclusions of previous studies, the researchers at the UOC suggest that the reason for this difference between male and female judges could be that female judges identify with more vulnerable groups.

"When dealing with this type of sex offense, women act as representatives of their gender and undoubtedly try to defend these victims, whom they see as more helpless or in a situation of inferiority, and perhaps for this reason they're more punitive," said Arantegui, a member of the UOC's Faculty of Law and Political Science.

As for the composition of benches of judges, the study concludes that the important factor is not the number of women (0, 1, 2 or 3), but instead the sex of the presiding judge, and in particular, that of the reporting judge.

According to Arantegui, the next step will be to examine what happens in cases of sexual violence that come before a single judge, and to expand the types of cases studied to determine whether the judges' sex also has an impact on other types of crimes.

More information: Laura Arantegui et al, Does the sex of judges matter? Analysis of sentencing in sex crimes in Spain, Criminology & Criminal Justice (2024). DOI: 10.1177/17488958241239785

Provided by Open University of Catalonia Study: Spanish courts hand down milder sentences for rapes if they are committed by the victim's partner or ex-partner

 

Preteens use dating apps, and 1 in 4 are sexual minorities: Study

by University of Toronto

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Though most online dating apps have a minimum age requirement of 18 years, a new study finds that a small number of 11–12 year-olds use them. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) preteens are 13 times more likely to report engaging in online dating compared to their heterosexual peers.

The research is published in the journal BMC Research Notes.

"Lesbian, gay, or bisexual adolescents, including preteens, may have limited romantic partner options in their schools, where they may also face discrimination, bullying, and stigma because of their sexual orientation," says lead author Jason Nagata, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. "Dating apps may allow adolescents to easily identify other LGB users in close geographic proximity, whereas it may be more difficult to determine a potential partner's sexual orientation in real life."

The researchers analyzed data from 10,157 adolescents, mostly 11 to 12 year-olds, who are part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. Data were collected from 2018-2020. Adolescents answered questions about online dating app use and their sexual orientation.

The study also found that preteen boys were nearly three times more likely to report online dating compared to girls.

"Preteen boys are more likely than girls to report that social media made them feel more connected with their significant other," says co-author Kyle T. Ganson, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. "Prior research has found that half of boys reported that social media made them feel more emotionally connected with their significant other, compared to 37% of girls."

The higher rates of online dating in LGB and male preteens may reflect trends in general screen use. A related study found that LGB preteens spend four more hours per day on screens in general, including television, videos, social media, and texting, than their heterosexual peers. Similarly, preteen boys spend 45 more minutes of total screen time daily than girls.

"Although online media can have benefits such as connection and socialization for LGB adolescents, parents and media literacy programs should provide guidance to mitigate risks from online dating such as cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, privacy violations, and the exchanging of inappropriate content," Nagata says. "Parents should talk to their adolescents about media usage, including online dating, and develop rules through a family media use plan."

More information: Jason M. Nagata et al, Social epidemiology of online dating in U.S. early adolescents, BMC Research Notes (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13104-024-06777-w

Provided by University of Toronto 

Transgender preteens report 13 hours of daily screen time

Study findings show transitioning gender identities is not linked with depression

by University of Texas at Austin

Credit: Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

A longitudinal study of LGBTQ+ youths has found that transitioning gender identities is not associated with depression and that about 1 in 3 gender-minority youths change their gender identity more than once. In fact, the study found higher rates of depression among transgender youths are more closely associated with bullying and victimization.

The findings from a team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and in Brazil are outlined in a paper in JAMA Network Open.

The study followed 366 LGBTQ+ young people ages 15–21 in two U.S. cities from 2011 to 2015 and measured depressive symptoms periodically, as well as the young people's self-reported gender identity and other factors.

During the study period, three-fourths of the participants maintained a gender identity consistent with their sex at birth (known as cisgender) throughout the three years, and another 9% maintained a transgender identity during the study period. Variations in gender identity were observed among other participants, including about 8% who reported a transgender identity earlier on and moved to a cisgender identity by the end of the study.

"Exploring gender identity and gender expression is a normal part of adolescence and growing up for some youth," said André Gonzales Real, a clinical psychiatrist and UT doctoral student in human development and family sciences and corresponding author on the paper.

"Depression among transgender youth is a big public health concern, but it's not gender identity or transitioning that is at the root. It's the bullying, rejection and victimization we need to be worried about."

Of the ouths who reported a different gender identity during the study, almost one-third did so more than twice. Among these youths, the rate of depressive symptoms was the lowest of the different groups and remained largely stable throughout the study.

Specifically, researchers found that young people who transitioned from a cisgender identity to a transgender identity were more likely to experience symptoms of depression than those who maintained a cisgender identity throughout the study.

Importantly, when researchers controlled for bullying and victimization, which is more common for transgender youths, there was no statistical difference in depressive symptoms between groups. The finding lends key context to earlier reports of links between youth depression and gender transition.

"We found that gender identity is not the primary driver of mental health. Mental health is related to the environment young people are living in," said Stephen Russell, the Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor in Child Development at UT and an author of the paper. "Being a transgender young person does not lead to depression on its own, but the social environment that many of these young people experience does."

Researchers also concluded that there was no change in depressive symptoms measured before and after transitions to transgender—or to cisgender. Finally, the study found that results were the same regardless of participants' use of hormones and puberty blockers.

Many studies looking at long-term outcomes for transgender and gender diverse youths come from clinical settings. The study is innovative in using a community-based sample, working with young people involved in community organizations serving LGBTQ+ youths.

Maria Inês Rodrigues Lobato of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil is also a corresponding author on the paper.

More information: Trajectories of Gender Identity and Depressive Symptoms in Youths, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11322 , jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman … /fullarticle/2818886

Journal information: Child Psychiatry & Human Development 

Provided by University of Texas at Austin 

Transgender preteens report 13 hours of daily screen time

 

Autistic-led study reveals urgent priorities for supporting autistic girls and gender diverse youth

by University of Technology, Sydney

Credit: University of Technology Sydney.

A new study led by autistic people and researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) sheds light on the challenges faced by autistic girls, women and gender diverse people within health care, the education system and society.

The research paper, titled "Nothing About Us, Without Us': Research Priorities for Autistic Girls, Women and Gender Diverse People in Australia" and published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, highlights the urgent need for inclusive supports to maximize the well-being of autistic people and provides key considerations for the National Autism Strategy that is currently under community consultation.

Study co-lead Dr. Rachel Grove from the UTS School of Public Health, said the research aims to address the longstanding gaps in understanding the experiences of autistic women, girls and gender diverse people.

"Historically, autism has been viewed through a gendered lens with incorrect assumptions that only boys can be autistic, resulting in oversight and inadequate support. It was critical to ensure that autistic people undertook the research," said Dr. Grove.

Sarah Gurrin, an autistic co-lead on the project said autistic people have often been studied by academics with no lived experience and a narrow view of what autism is.

"This is vital research to help ensure there is not another lost generation of autistic girls, women and gender diverse people."

The researchers heard from over 100 autistic girls and gender diverse people aged from 7 to 17. Parents and health professionals were deliberately excluded to prioritize the perspectives of autistic youth.

As Hayley Clapham, an autistic co-lead in the research explains, "for too long autism research focused on children and young people has predominantly reflected the perspectives of clinicians, educators and parents.

"To ensure that research accurately responds to the needs and experiences of autistic young people, it is crucial that researchers prioritize their inclusion in the shaping and informing of research and outcomes that directly impact their lives."

The findings, distilled into six key research priority areas for autistic young people, provide a roadmap for meaningful change.

The foremost concern expressed by autistic girls and gender diverse young people was the need for greater understanding and support at school, including tailored inclusive support across all educational environments.

One autistic young person told the researchers, "The fact is that I can be in a school system where I don't receive the support I need because I'm not visibly struggling. I think there needs to be more awareness spread of how autism looks and that it's not a little mold that someone can fit into."

Autistic girls and gender diverse young people also want a better understanding of their experiences, strengths and challenges related to puberty, sensory differences, self-regulation needs, and to see themselves represented in society and the media.

As one autistic young person put it, "I didn't really see representation of an autistic person that looked or acted like me, a girl, a teenager, all of these things."

The third priority outlines the pressing need for specialized mental health services tailored to the autistic experience. This is critical given autistic women are 83% more likely to lose their life by suicide than the general population.

One young person said, "I spent years struggling in school until I mentally broke … Why does it take so long to help autistic females? Why do we have to be mentally exhausted?"

Other research priorities included friendships and relationships, and inclusive policies and resources that affirm and respect diverse gender identities and focus on support first. The researchers say this is critical given the greater gender diversity among autistic people.

The final research priority focuses on accommodations to make life easier, such as practical adjustments that alleviate stress, build capacity and promote autonomy.

The researchers also spoke to over 300 autistic women and gender diverse adults, with a further eight key priorities identified, including understanding experiences of trauma, abuse and sexual violence, and addressing barriers in health care, education and the workplace.

One autistic adult spoke of the importance of recognizing the strengths of autistic young people and supporting them to flourish, "I think these girls, these strengths and these brains need to be embraced and utilized. These brilliant, brilliant human beings… I wished that I had those tools, and that I was allowed to thrive and to be who I am when I was that young."

Tess Moodie, an autistic co-lead in the research said, "For years we have been saying there should be nothing about us without us.

"I am hopeful this will set the standard for commitments from future researchers, both for the priorities, but also in authentically collaborating with autistic people in co-development of research.

"This work sets the agenda for future research to help autistic young people live better lives in our neurotypical-centered world."

More information: Rachel Grove et al, 'Nothing About Us, Without Us': Research Priorities for Autistic Girls, Women and Gender Diverse People in Australia, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06330-5

Journal information: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 

Provided by University of Technology, Sydney 

Autistic people's feelings mostly misread—empathy works both ways, research reveals

Polyamory among youth: New research highlights stigma and depressive symptoms

by Eric W. Dolan
May 22, 2024
in Consensual Non-Monogamy

(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

A recent study published in Psychology & Sexuality suggests that polyamory is not only present among adolescents but also comes with significant stigma and mental health challenges. This research, one of the first to focus on polyamorous youth, found that 16.7% of the participants at an LGBTQ+ summer camp identified as polyamorous or ambiamorous. These adolescents reported higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to their peers.

Polyamory refers to a relationship structure in which individuals have multiple romantic partners simultaneously, with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Unlike cheating, which involves secrecy and betrayal, polyamory is based on honesty, communication, and mutual agreement among all partners. Polyamorous relationships can vary widely and do not necessarily involve sexual activity; they may focus on emotional and romantic connections.

Ambiamory is a related term that describes a person’s flexibility in their relationship preferences. Ambiamorous individuals are open to either monogamous or polyamorous relationships, depending on their current situation and the preferences of their partners. Essentially, ambiamorous people do not have a fixed preference for one type of relationship structure over another; instead, they adapt to what feels right based on their circumstances and the dynamics with their partners.

The motivation behind the new study stemmed from the growing visibility and acceptance of polyamory among adults, coupled with a lack of understanding about its presence and impact among adolescents. While polyamory has been featured more prominently in media and research focusing on adults, there has been little exploration of how these relationship structures affect younger individuals.

To investigate whether polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents experience higher levels of mental health challenges, study author Traci Gillig surveyed individuals at Brave Trails, a summer camp designed specifically for LGBTQ+ youth. A total of 323 adolescents, aged 12 to 17, participated in the research. These participants were selected as they attended the camp during the summer of 2023.

Participants completed surveys at two different points: before the camp began and on the last full day of the camp. These surveys included standardized assessments to measure anxiety and depressive symptoms. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder subscale of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 was used to assess anxiety, while the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Short Form was employed to measure depressive symptoms. These tools are well-established in psychological research and provide reliable data on the mental health status of the participants.

In addition to mental health assessments, the surveys asked participants about their preferred relationship structure and their comfort level with being open about their relationship preferences in their home communities. The participants could choose from options like monogamous, polyamorous, ambiamorous, or unsure, and they were also given the opportunity to elaborate on their responses through open-ended questions.

The study also included qualitative elements. Participants provided written explanations about their perceptions of safety and acceptance regarding their polyamorous identity. These qualitative responses were analyzed thematically to identify common patterns and themes related to their experiences and feelings of safety in their home environments.

Gillig found that a substantial portion of the camp’s participants, approximately 16.7%, identified as polyamorous or ambiamorous. These polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents exhibited elevated depressive symptoms before attending the camp. However, the study found no significant difference in anxiety levels between polyamorous/ambiamorous youth and their peers at the outset, indicating that the impact on mental health may be more pronounced in terms of depressive symptoms rather than anxiety.




A notable aspect of the findings was the impact of the supportive environment provided by the LGBTQ+ camp. All adolescents, regardless of their relationship preferences, showed improved mental health by the end of the camp. Both depressive symptoms and anxiety levels decreased significantly after spending time in this accepting and affirming setting. This highlights the importance of creating supportive spaces for marginalized youth, where they can explore their identities without fear of judgment or discrimination.

Despite the overall improvement in mental health, the study revealed that many polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents did not feel safe being open about their identity in their home communities. Less than half (44.4%) of these youth felt safe or would feel safe disclosing their polyamorous identity at home. The qualitative data provided deeper insight into this issue, with many adolescents expressing concerns about being misunderstood, judged, or stigmatized if they were open about their relationship preferences.

The thematic analysis of the written responses identified several reasons why these adolescents did not feel safe. The most common reasons included the stigmatization of polyamory, a lack of understanding about polyamorous relationships, and uncertainty or fear about how people would react. Many adolescents mentioned that even those who accepted their LGBTQ+ identity might not be supportive of their polyamorous identity, indicating a specific gap in acceptance and understanding within their communities.

“It was notable that many of the polyamorous teens said they wouldn’t feel safe being out in their home communities,” said Gillig, an assistant professor at Washington State University. “They felt like they would be misunderstood or that people have stereotypes or judgments around what it means for them to be poly, like that they are promiscuous or don’t perceive cheating as a problem.”

“Youths’ experience with being polyamorous or ambiamorous is similar to being LGBTQ+ in that if they perceive that they won’t be supported, then they’re not as likely to disclose their identity at home. We know from research with queer youth that this can cause elevated levels of depressive symptoms,” she added. “My hope is that parents would have an open mind, if their child comes to them and expresses that they identify as polyamorous or if they have questions about it.”

On the other hand, the adolescents who did feel safe being open about their polyamorous identity often cited supportive or indifferent attitudes in their communities, knowing other polyamorous individuals, and a strong comfort with their own identity as reasons for their sense of safety. These protective factors underscore the importance of having visible support networks and fostering an environment where diverse relationship structures are understood and accepted.


The study, “Polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents: a first empirical look at mental health in an LGBTQ+ sample,” was published online on April 28, 2024.