Autism Risk

Posting Date: 06/08/2004

The researchers report, ?Compared with control subjects, cases had significantly older parents and were more likely to be firstborn. Case mothers had greater frequencies of threatened abortion, epidural caudal anesthesia use, labor induction, and a labor duration of less than one hour. Cases were more likely to have experienced fetal distress, been delivered by an elective or emergency cesarean section, and had an Apgar score of less than 6 at one minute [after birth].?

The researchers also found that the siblings of children with autism were more similar to their siblings than to the control group in terms of their profile of complications during pregnancy and birth.

The authors conclude, ?The strongest findings were increased maternal age and a threatened abortion during pregnancy,? the authors write. ?It is unlikely that single factors or events cause autistic disorders, although it is possible that early nongenetic influences may act on the causal pathway for some cases. The observed complications are generally nonspecific and cannot predict autism development.?

(Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61:618-627. Available post-embargo at archgenpsychiatry.com)

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