Fetal brain growth and infant autistic traits / Ezra AYDIN in Molecular Autism, 15 (2024)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > 15 (2024) . - 11p. Titre : Fetal brain growth and infant autistic traits Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Ezra AYDIN, Auteur ; Alex TSOMPANIDIS, Auteur ; Daren CHAPLIN, Auteur ; Rebecca HAWKES, Auteur ; Carrie ALLISON, Auteur ; Gerald HACKETT, Auteur ; Topun AUSTIN, Auteur ; Egl? PADAIGAIT?, Auteur ; Lidia V. GABIS, Auteur ; John SUCKING, Auteur ; Rosemary HOLT, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur Article en page(s) : 11p. Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Male  Infant  Pregnancy  Female  Humans  Autistic Disorder/diagnostic imaging  Brain/diagnostic imaging  Gestational Age  Autistic traits  Early brain development  Q-chat  Transcerebellar diameter  Ultrasound Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Structural differences exist in the brains of autistic individuals. To date only a few studies have explored the relationship between fetal brain growth and later infant autistic traits, and some have used fetal head circumference (HC) as a proxy for brain development. These findings have been inconsistent. Here we investigate whether fetal subregional brain measurements correlate with autistic traits in toddlers. METHODS: A total of 219 singleton pregnancies (104 males and 115 females) were recruited at the Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, UK. 2D ultrasound was performed at 12-, 20- and between 26 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, measuring head circumference (HC), ventricular atrium (VA) and transcerebellar diameter (TCD). A total of 179 infants were followed up at 18-20 months of age and completed the quantitative checklist for autism in toddlers (Q-CHAT) to measure autistic traits. RESULTS: Q-CHAT scores at 18-20 months of age were positively associated with TCD size at 20 weeks and with HC at 28 weeks, in univariate analyses, and in multiple regression models which controlled for sex, maternal age and birth weight. LIMITATIONS: Due to the nature and location of the study, ascertainment bias could also have contributed to the recruitment of volunteer mothers with a higher than typical range of autistic traits and/or with a significant interest in the neurodevelopment of their children. CONCLUSION: Prenatal brain growth is associated with toddler autistic traits and this can be ascertained via ultrasound starting at 20 weeks gestation. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-024-00586-5 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=538 [article] Fetal brain growth and infant autistic traits [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Ezra AYDIN, Auteur ; Alex TSOMPANIDIS, Auteur ; Daren CHAPLIN, Auteur ; Rebecca HAWKES, Auteur ; Carrie ALLISON, Auteur ; Gerald HACKETT, Auteur ; Topun AUSTIN, Auteur ; Egl? PADAIGAIT?, Auteur ; Lidia V. GABIS, Auteur ; John SUCKING, Auteur ; Rosemary HOLT, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur . - 11p. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > 15 (2024) . - 11p. Mots-clés : Male  Infant  Pregnancy  Female  Humans  Autistic Disorder/diagnostic imaging  Brain/diagnostic imaging  Gestational Age  Autistic traits  Early brain development  Q-chat  Transcerebellar diameter  Ultrasound Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Structural differences exist in the brains of autistic individuals. To date only a few studies have explored the relationship between fetal brain growth and later infant autistic traits, and some have used fetal head circumference (HC) as a proxy for brain development. These findings have been inconsistent. Here we investigate whether fetal subregional brain measurements correlate with autistic traits in toddlers. METHODS: A total of 219 singleton pregnancies (104 males and 115 females) were recruited at the Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, UK. 2D ultrasound was performed at 12-, 20- and between 26 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, measuring head circumference (HC), ventricular atrium (VA) and transcerebellar diameter (TCD). A total of 179 infants were followed up at 18-20 months of age and completed the quantitative checklist for autism in toddlers (Q-CHAT) to measure autistic traits. RESULTS: Q-CHAT scores at 18-20 months of age were positively associated with TCD size at 20 weeks and with HC at 28 weeks, in univariate analyses, and in multiple regression models which controlled for sex, maternal age and birth weight. LIMITATIONS: Due to the nature and location of the study, ascertainment bias could also have contributed to the recruitment of volunteer mothers with a higher than typical range of autistic traits and/or with a significant interest in the neurodevelopment of their children. CONCLUSION: Prenatal brain growth is associated with toddler autistic traits and this can be ascertained via ultrasound starting at 20 weeks gestation. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-024-00586-5 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=538

Foetal testosterone and autistic traits in 18 to 24-month-old children / Bonnie AUYEUNG in Molecular Autism, (July 2010)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > (July 2010) . - 8 p. Titre : Foetal testosterone and autistic traits in 18 to 24-month-old children Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Bonnie AUYEUNG, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur ; Kevin TAYLOR, Auteur ; Gerald HACKETT, Auteur Année de publication : 2010 Article en page(s) : 8 p. Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Autism spectrum conditions have been characterised as an extreme presentation of certain male-typical psychological traits. In addition, several studies have established a link between prenatal exposure to testosterone and cognitive sex differences in later life, and one study found that foetal testosterone (FT) is positively correlated to autistic traits in 6 to 10 year-old children. In this study, we tested whether FT is positively correlated with autistic traits in toddlers aged 18-24 months. Methods Levels of FT were analysed in amniotic fluid and compared with autistic traits, measured using the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in 129 typically developing toddlers aged between 18 and 24 months (mean ± SD 19.25 ± 1.52 months). Results Sex differences were observed in Q-CHAT scores, with boys scoring significantly higher (indicating more autistic traits) than girls. In addition, we confirmed a significant positive relationship between FT levels and autistic traits. Conclusions The current findings in children between 18 and 24 months of age are consistent with observations in older children showing a positive association between elevated FT levels and autistic traits. Given that sex steroid-related gene variations are associated with autistic traits in adults, this new finding suggests that the brain basis of autistic traits may reflect individual differences in prenatal androgens and androgen-related genes. The consistency of findings in early childhood, later childhood and adulthood suggests that this is a robust association. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-1-11 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=109 [article] Foetal testosterone and autistic traits in 18 to 24-month-old children [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Bonnie AUYEUNG, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur ; Kevin TAYLOR, Auteur ; Gerald HACKETT, Auteur . - 2010 . - 8 p. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > (July 2010) . - 8 p. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Autism spectrum conditions have been characterised as an extreme presentation of certain male-typical psychological traits. In addition, several studies have established a link between prenatal exposure to testosterone and cognitive sex differences in later life, and one study found that foetal testosterone (FT) is positively correlated to autistic traits in 6 to 10 year-old children. In this study, we tested whether FT is positively correlated with autistic traits in toddlers aged 18-24 months. Methods Levels of FT were analysed in amniotic fluid and compared with autistic traits, measured using the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in 129 typically developing toddlers aged between 18 and 24 months (mean ± SD 19.25 ± 1.52 months). Results Sex differences were observed in Q-CHAT scores, with boys scoring significantly higher (indicating more autistic traits) than girls. In addition, we confirmed a significant positive relationship between FT levels and autistic traits. Conclusions The current findings in children between 18 and 24 months of age are consistent with observations in older children showing a positive association between elevated FT levels and autistic traits. Given that sex steroid-related gene variations are associated with autistic traits in adults, this new finding suggests that the brain basis of autistic traits may reflect individual differences in prenatal androgens and androgen-related genes. The consistency of findings in early childhood, later childhood and adulthood suggests that this is a robust association. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-1-11 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=109

Prenatal versus postnatal sex steroid hormone effects on autistic traits in children at 18 to 24 months of age / Bonnie AUYEUNG in Molecular Autism, (December 2012)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > (December 2012) . - 5 p. Titre : Prenatal versus postnatal sex steroid hormone effects on autistic traits in children at 18 to 24 months of age Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Bonnie AUYEUNG, Auteur ; Jag AHLUWALIA, Auteur ; Lynn THOMSON, Auteur ; Kevin TAYLOR, Auteur ; Gerald HACKETT, Auteur ; Kieran J. O'DONNELL, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur Année de publication : 2012 Article en page(s) : 5 p. Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND:Studies of prenatal exposure to sex steroid hormones predict autistic traits in children at 18 to 24 and at 96 months of age. However, it is not known whether postnatal exposure to these hormones has a similar effect. This study compares prenatal and postnatal sex steroid hormone levels in relation to autistic traits in 18 to 24-month-old children.Fetal testosterone (fT) and fetal estradiol (fE) levels were measured in amniotic fluid from pregnant women (n = 35) following routine second-trimester amniocentesis. Saliva samples were collected from these children when they reached three to four months of age and were analyzed for postnatal testosterone (pT) levels. Mothers were asked to complete the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT), a measure of autistic traits in children 18 to 24 months old.FINDING:fT (but not pT) levels were positively associated with scores on the Q-CHAT. fE and pT levels showed no sex differences and no relationships with fT levels. fT levels were the only variable that predicted Q-CHAT scores.CONCLUSIONS:These preliminary findings are consistent with the hypothesis that prenatal (but not postnatal) androgen exposure, coinciding with the critical period for sexual differentiation of the brain, is associated with the development of autistic traits in 18 to 24 month old toddlers. However, it is recognized that further work with a larger sample population is needed before the effects of postnatal androgen exposure on autistic traits can be ruled out. These results are also in line with the fetal androgen theory of autism, which suggests that prenatal, organizational effects of androgen hormones influence the development of autistic traits in later life. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-3-17 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=202 [article] Prenatal versus postnatal sex steroid hormone effects on autistic traits in children at 18 to 24 months of age [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Bonnie AUYEUNG, Auteur ; Jag AHLUWALIA, Auteur ; Lynn THOMSON, Auteur ; Kevin TAYLOR, Auteur ; Gerald HACKETT, Auteur ; Kieran J. O'DONNELL, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur . - 2012 . - 5 p. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > (December 2012) . - 5 p. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND:Studies of prenatal exposure to sex steroid hormones predict autistic traits in children at 18 to 24 and at 96 months of age. However, it is not known whether postnatal exposure to these hormones has a similar effect. This study compares prenatal and postnatal sex steroid hormone levels in relation to autistic traits in 18 to 24-month-old children.Fetal testosterone (fT) and fetal estradiol (fE) levels were measured in amniotic fluid from pregnant women (n = 35) following routine second-trimester amniocentesis. Saliva samples were collected from these children when they reached three to four months of age and were analyzed for postnatal testosterone (pT) levels. Mothers were asked to complete the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT), a measure of autistic traits in children 18 to 24 months old.FINDING:fT (but not pT) levels were positively associated with scores on the Q-CHAT. fE and pT levels showed no sex differences and no relationships with fT levels. fT levels were the only variable that predicted Q-CHAT scores.CONCLUSIONS:These preliminary findings are consistent with the hypothesis that prenatal (but not postnatal) androgen exposure, coinciding with the critical period for sexual differentiation of the brain, is associated with the development of autistic traits in 18 to 24 month old toddlers. However, it is recognized that further work with a larger sample population is needed before the effects of postnatal androgen exposure on autistic traits can be ruled out. These results are also in line with the fetal androgen theory of autism, which suggests that prenatal, organizational effects of androgen hormones influence the development of autistic traits in later life. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-3-17 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=202

---

1 (1 - 3 / 3)