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Autism, regression, and the broader autism phenotype
Janet E Lainhart1, Sally Ozonoff, Hilary Coon
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-1236, USA. janet.lainhart@hsc.utah.edu
American Journal of Medical Genetics
|November 20, 2002
Summary
The broader autism phenotype (BAP) appears equally in parents of autistic children with or without language regression. This suggests a genetic vulnerability, not solely environmental factors, contributes to regressive autism.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- The broader autism phenotype (BAP) represents subclinical traits linked to genetic liability for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Understanding BAP aids in identifying genetic contributions to ASD, including subtypes like regressive autism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare BAP rates in parents of autistic children with language regression versus those without.
- To assess if BAP prevalence differs between these familial groups and controls.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 18 parents of autistic probands with language regression and 70 parents of autistic probands without regression for BAP features.
- Compared BAP rates in these parent groups to published data from parents of nonautistic individuals.
Main Results:
- BAP rates were similar in parents of regressive (27.8%) and nonregressive (32.9%) autistic probands.
- BAP rates were significantly higher in both autism parent groups compared to parents of nonautistic subjects (P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- The genetic liability for autism, as indexed by BAP, is elevated similarly in families with regressive and nonregressive autism.
- Environmental factors are unlikely to be the sole cause of regressive autism, but may interact with genetic vulnerability.