Elon Musk’s Asperger’s Syndrome

Billionaire Elon Musk made his debut as host of Saturday Night Live earlier this month. And true to form, the Tesla and SpaceX founder started making news right in the opening monologue:

“I don’t always have a lot of intonation or variation in how I speak … which I’m told makes for great comedy. I’m actually making history tonight as the first person with Asperger’s to host SNL … So, I won’t make a lot of eye contact with the cast tonight. But don’t worry, I’m pretty good at running ‘human’ in emulation mode.”

He went on to say, “Look, I know I sometimes say or post strange things, but that’s just how my brain works. To anyone who’s been offended, I just want to say, I reinvented electric cars, and I’m sending people to Mars in a rocket ship. Did you think I was also going to be a chill, normal dude?”

Musk may have been the first to announce he has Asperger’s while hosting SNL, however, he is not the first host with Asperger’s syndrome. Fellow ex-SNL star Jim Belushi pointed out that former cast member Dan Aykroyd, who hosted the show in 2003, has been open about being diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in the 1980s.

What Is Asperger’s Syndrome?

Asperger’s syndrome is part of the autism spectrum, a group of disorders that affect the development of social and communication skills. Other autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) include classic autism, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Unlike many children with ASD, children with Asperger’s syndrome do not have early language delays, and often have well-developed language skills and normal to above-average intelligence.

However, they may use unusual speech patterns and have a hard time understanding irony, humor, sarcasm, or gestures and social cues important to normal conversation. Many children with Asperger’s syndrome develop an obsessive interest in one topic or object. They may use high-level vocabulary or complex statistics in conversation. Children with Asperger’s syndrome may have delayed motor skills and thus can appear uncoordinated and clumsy compared with their peers.

Other features of Asperger’s syndrome include difficulty interacting with peers, inappropriate social or emotional behavior, and engaging in repetitive routines. Both children and adults with Asperger’s syndrome are at an increased risk for depression, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood and anxiety disorders, and other mental health disorders.

Of note: the newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), updated in 2013, which is used predominantly in the U.S., replaced the terms Asperger’s syndrome and other pervasive developmental disorders with the umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This means that, currently, Asperger’s syndrome is not officially considered a separate disorder in the U.S., but instead is now part of the autism spectrum. However, many doctors still use this term. The World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), which is used in other countries throughout the world, still uses Asperger’s syndrome as a subtype of ASD.

What Causes Asperger’s Syndrome?

The cause of Asperger’s syndrome, like most ASDs, is not fully understood, but there is a strong genetic basis. However, the way it runs in families is complex. Doctors believe this is because although a child may have a genetic predisposition to Asperger’s syndrome, other factors in the environment are involved in the development and course of the syndrome.

There are many different genes that are believed to be associated with an increased risk for developing Asperger’s syndrome, and the search continues for more. Scientists are also working to better understand how variations in different genes may influence this risk and which environmental factors may be important.

How Is Asperger’s Syndrome Treated?

Treatment for Asperger’s syndrome depends on each person’s age and needs, and the recommendation is for treatment to begin as early as possible. Many people with Asperger’s syndrome can learn strategies to manage their symptoms.

The ideal treatment for Asperger’s coordinates therapies that address the three core symptoms of the disorder: poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness. There is no single best treatment package for all children with Asperger’s syndrome, but most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.

An effective treatment program builds on the child’s interests, offers a predictable schedule, teaches tasks as a series of simple steps, actively engages the child’s attention in highly structured activities, and provides regular reinforcement of prosocial and adaptive behaviors. It may include social skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication for co-existing conditions, and other measures.

Not much is known about the best interventions for older children and adults with ASD. There has been some research on social skills groups for older children, but there is not enough evidence to show that these are effective.

Additional research is needed to evaluate interventions designed to improve outcomes in adulthood. In addition, services are important to help individuals with ASD complete their education or job training, find employment, secure housing and transportation, take care of their health, improve daily functioning, and participate as fully as possible in their communities.

Michele R. Berman, MD, is a pediatrician-turned-medical journalist. She trained at Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Her mission is both journalistic and educational: to report on common diseases affecting uncommon people and summarize the evidence-based medicine behind the headlines.