March 04, 2024
- A longitudinal, population-based birth cohort study assessed the risk of autoimmune disease in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to matched controls. ASD cases were identified using DSM-IV-TR criteria from a cohort of 31,220 individuals. Each ASD case was then matched with two controls without ASD by age and sex. Results showed that ASD cases had a significantly increased risk of autoimmune disease compared to controls, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.74. The risk was particularly pronounced among male patients (HR 2.01), though not statistically significant among females. The study highlights the importance of monitoring children with ASD for symptoms of autoimmune disease and initiating appropriate workups when necessary, suggesting a potential co-occurrence between ASD and autoimmune disorders.
- A new investigation has examined the rate of foster care involvement for minors with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The findings showed that over 39,000 I/DD children were involved in foster care in 2016, representing 8.9% of the total foster care population. Rates of ASD and ID among youth in foster care were 2 to 5 times higher than in the general population, with Black youth and females across all diagnosis groups at increased risk. The authors suggest that the disparities in foster care involvement for Black youth with I/DD could be linked to systemic racial discrimination and historical marginalization.
- A recent cohort study has investigated the association between in-utero exposure to stimulant medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. Using health care utilization data from Medicaid and commercially insured pregnant individuals in the United States, the study found that while unadjusted analyses showed a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of neurodevelopmental outcomes with amphetamine/dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate exposure, adjusted analyses revealed no significant association between amphetamine/dextroamphetamine exposure and any neurodevelopmental disorder. Methylphenidate exposure, however, was associated with an increased risk of ADHD but not with other outcomes after adjustment. The study concluded that exposure to these medications during pregnancy is unlikely to raise the risk of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders substantially.
- The Autism Research Institute (ARI) is hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, March 27 at 3 p.m. (EDT). Biomarkers Start Telling Us a Story: Autism Pathophysiology Revisited will examine emerging research on biomarkers and autism from a recent ARI research grant participant, Dr. Antonio Persico.
