Environmental Factors Like Maternal Education, Family Structure and Race Influence Recurrence Rates
A new study by the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Baby Siblings Research Consortium, published in Pediatrics, found that approximately 20% of siblings born after a child with autism are diagnosed with the disorder. This rate is seven times higher than the general population’s 2.5%. The research emphasizes the role of both genetic and environmental factors in autism recurrence. Notably, boy siblings were more frequently diagnosed than girl siblings, with 25.3% of boy siblings and 13.1% of girl siblings affected. The study also uncovered racial and socioeconomic disparities: autism recurrence was higher in non-white families (24.3%) and among children whose mothers had less than a college education. Additionally, differences were observed between simplex families (with one child on the spectrum) and multiplex families (with more than one child on the spectrum). Girls in multiplex families were found to have a significantly higher risk of developing autism compared to those in simplex families. These findings underscore the need for close developmental monitoring, particularly in families with multiple affected children and those experiencing social disadvantages.
