Autism risk factors
|
Autism Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Autism risk factors On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Autism risk factors |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Risk Factors
Boys are at higher risk for autism than girls. The ASD sex ratio averages 4.3:1 and is greatly modified by cognitive impairment: it may be close to 2:1 with mental retardation and more than 5.5:1 without. Recent studies have found no association with socioeconomic status, and have reported inconsistent results about associations with race or ethnicity[1].
The risk of autism is associated with several prenatal and perinatal risk factors. A 2007 review of risk factors found associated parental characteristics that included advanced maternal age, advanced paternal age, and maternal place of birth outside Europe or North America, and also found associated obstetric conditions that included low birth weight and gestation duration, and hypoxia during childbirth.[2]
A large 2008 population study of Swedish parents of children with autism found that the parents were more likely to have been hospitalized for a mental disorder, that schizophrenia was more common among the mothers and fathers, and that depression and personality disorders were more common among the mothers.[3]
References
- ↑ Newschaffer CJ, Croen LA, Daniels J; et al. (2007). "The epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders". Annu Rev Public Health. 28: 235–58. doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.28.021406.144007. PMID 17367287.
- ↑ Kolevzon A, Gross R, Reichenberg A (2007). "Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for autism". Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 161 (4): 326–33. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.4.326. PMID 17404128.
- ↑ Daniels JL, Forssen U, Hultman CM; et al. (2008). "Parental psychiatric disorders associated with autism spectrum disorders in the offspring". Pediatrics. 121 (5): e1357–62. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2296. PMID 18450879. Lay summary – UNC News (2008-05-05).