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Growth in stature and head circumference in high-functioning autism and Asperger disorder during the first 3 years of

Cheryl Dissanayake1, Quang M Bui, Richard Huggins

  • 1School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia. c.dissanayake@latrobe.edu.au

Development and Psychopathology
|April 8, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Children with autism spectrum disorder show accelerated growth in height and weight during early development. This study highlights broader physical growth dysregulation beyond just brain size in autism.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Autism research

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with increased head circumference and brain size.
  • Limited research has explored other physical growth characteristics in the developmental trajectory of autism.
  • Understanding the full anatomic phenotype is crucial for early identification and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental anatomic phenotype in infants diagnosed with high-functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger disorder (AsD).
  • To compare physical growth parameters (head circumference, body length/height, weight) during the first three years of life between children with ASD and typically developing controls.
  • To determine if growth dysregulation in autism is confined to the brain or extends to overall body growth.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of health records for infants diagnosed with HFA (n=16) and AsD (n=12).
  • Comparison of head circumference, body length/height, and weight measurements against a matched control group (n=19).
  • Application of linear mixed-effects models to analyze growth rates over the first three years of life.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in average growth rates for head circumference, stature, or weight were observed between children with HFA and AsD.
  • A significantly higher growth rate in body length/height and weight was found in the combined group of children with HFA and AsD compared to controls.
  • A trend towards a higher growth rate in head circumference was noted in children with HFA and AsD compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Growth dysregulation in autism spectrum disorder extends beyond the brain to encompass overall body growth, including stature.
  • These findings suggest a broader systemic involvement in the developmental trajectory of autism.
  • Further research into the complete physical phenotype of autism is warranted to inform diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

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