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Autism Spectrum Disorder and Grandmother's Race, Ethnicity, and Nativity
Ting Chow1, Qi Meng1, Karl O'Sharkey1
1Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Insights
Grandmother's race, ethnicity, and nativity are linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in grandchildren. Foreign-born Black and Hispanic grandmothers showed higher ASD odds, suggesting a multigenerational influence on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with multifactorial etiology.
- Understanding potential intergenerational influences on ASD risk is crucial for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal grandmother's race, ethnicity, and nativity and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in grandchildren.
- To explore these associations specifically for ASD with intellectual disabilities (ID).
Main Methods:
- A statewide multigenerational California birth cohort linkage study was conducted.
- Utilized birth records and diagnostic records for children born between 2001-2019 to mothers born between 1983-2001.
- Logistic regression analysis estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ASD based on grandmother's demographic characteristics.
Main Results:
- Higher odds of ASD were observed in grandchildren of US-born Black, foreign-born Black, US-born Hispanic, and foreign-born Hispanic grandmothers compared to US-born White grandmothers.
- Associations were stronger for ASD with ID, particularly among Black and Hispanic grandmothers.
- Foreign-born grandmothers, across Black and Hispanic ethnicities, showed the highest risk for ASD in grandchildren.
Conclusions:
- Grandmother's race, ethnicity, and nativity are significant factors associated with ASD and ASD with ID risk.
- The findings highlight potential intergenerational effects and disparities in neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the biological and social mechanisms underlying these observed associations.
Objective:
This study investigated associations between offspring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and grandmother's race, ethnicity, and nativity.
Method:
This is a statewide multigenerational California birth cohort linkage study using birth records from the California Department of Public Health and diagnostic records from the California Department of Developmental Services with primary diagnosis of autistic disorder and codes for intellectual disabilities (ID). The analytical study population includes 1,743,177 mother-child pairs of children born between 2001 and 2019 to mothers who were born between 1983 and 2001. Grandmother's self-reported race, ethnicity, and nativity were recorded on the birth certificate. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were estimated using logistic regression.
Results:
The odds of ASD among grandchildren were higher among grandmothers who were US-born Black (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.20-1.31), foreign-born Black (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.17-1.81), US-born Hispanic (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.14-1.23), and foreign-born Hispanic (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.19-1.26), but not US-born Asian Pacific Islander (API; OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.75-1.02), foreign-born API (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.88-1.00), or foreign-born White (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.82-0.99), compared to grandmothers who were US-born White. For ASD with ID, associations were stronger for grandmothers who were US- and foreign-born Black and Hispanic, and positive associations were observed for grandmothers who were foreign-born API.
Conclusion:
Results suggest that the risk of ASD and ASD with ID differ by grandmother's race, ethnicity, and nativity, with higher odds observed among grandmothers who were Black and Hispanic and with the highest risk observed among grandchildren of grandmothers who were foreign-born.
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