Sibling's likelihood of autism diagnosis impacted by age gap, study
finds

Date:
August 25, 2021
Source:
Curtin University
Summary:
Mothers of children with autism who delayed their subsequent
pregnancy by 2.5 to three years reduced the likelihood of their
next child also being diagnosed on the spectrum, new research shows.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Mothers of children with autism who delayed their subsequent pregnancy
by 2.5 to three years reduced the likelihood of their next child also
being diagnosed on the spectrum, new research shows.


==========================================================================
The Curtin University research in collaboration with the Telethon Kids Institute, published in Autism Research, investigated more than 925,000
births in Denmark, Finland and Sweden including more than 9,300 that
resulted in a child later being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Lead author Professor Gavin Pereira, from Curtin's School of Population
Health, said the research found a significant -- and surprising --
link between the time between pregnancies and a sibling's chances of
also being diagnosed with autism.

"Our research found that the siblings of children with autism were less
likely to be diagnosed on the spectrum if there was a 30 to 39-month
gap between both pregnancies," Professor Pereira said.

"Waiting 2.5 to three years to conceive another child was considered
the optimum timeframe, potentially preventing five per cent of cases of
autism in Denmark, eight per cent in Finland and nine per cent in Sweden,
on average.

"Across the general population, this study also showed that children born
to mothers who became pregnant again three months after giving birth had a
50 per cent higher chance of being diagnosed with autism, and those born
five years later had a 24 per cent greater chance." Professor Pereira
said he was surprised to find his research identified an environmental
link to autism in addition to documented genetic and biological factors.

"The results of this large-scale, multi-country research may help to
inform family planning counselling, particularly for those families that
are already at a higher risk because of a genetic history of neurological disease," Professor Pereira said.

Co-author Associate Professor Helen Leonard, from the Telethon Kids
Institute, said the findings were most relevant to families where there
was an increased risk of autism.

"However, couples seeking advice on pregnancy spacing should always
consult with their medical provider for advice on their individual circumstances," Associate Professor Leonard said.

"This work was initially spearheaded by researchers at Telethon Kids and
is continuing to contribute to our understanding of this challenging condition." The high-income countries studied provided universal
healthcare and paid parental leave after childbirth, including a maximum
of 46 weeks in Denmark, 47 weeks in Finland and 92 weeks in Sweden.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Curtin_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Gavin Pereira, Richard W. Francis, Mika Gissler, Stefan N. Hansen,
Arad
Kodesh, Helen Leonard, Stephen Z. Levine, Vera R. Mitter, Eric
T. Parner, Annette K. Regan, Abraham Reichenberg, Sven Sandin,
Auli Suominen, Diana Schendel. Optimal interpregnancy interval
in autism spectrum disorder: A multi‐national study of a
modifiable risk factor. Autism Research, 2021; DOI: 10.1002/aur.2599 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210825113644.htm

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