Gestational Age in Autistic Children and Adolescents: Prevalence and Effects on Autism Phenotype

Area of Science:

• Developmental Neuroscience
• Pediatric Psychiatry

Background:

• Gestational age (GA) is a critical factor in child development.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the prevalence and autism phenotype across the full spectrum of gestational ages in autistic individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of pre-term, full-term, and post-term birth among autistic children and adolescents.
• To examine autism phenotype and comorbid symptoms in relation to gestational age.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of birth records from a population-derived sample of 606 autistic children and adolescents with matched controls from the Dutch birth register.
• Assessment of autism phenotype and comorbid symptoms using the AQ-short and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
• Logistic regression analysis to determine the association between gestational age and autism.

Main Results:

• A higher prevalence of both pre-term and post-term births was observed in the autistic group compared to controls.
• No significant differences in autism phenotype or comorbid symptoms were found across different gestational age groups.
• Autism risk was notably elevated in post-term born children.

Conclusions:

• Gestational age, particularly post-term birth, is associated with an increased risk for autism.
• Further research is warranted to explore the relationship between autism and the entire range of gestational ages.
• Current findings emphasize the importance of considering gestational age in autism research and clinical practice.