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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Research

Differential cognitive and behavioral development from 6 to 24 months in autism and fragile X syndrome

Authors: Lindsay J. Mullin, Joshua Rutsohn, Julia L. Gross, Kelly E. Caravella, Rebecca L. Grzadzinski, Leigh Anne Weisenfeld, Lisa Flake, Kelly N. Botteron, Stephen R. Dager, Annette M. Estes, Juhi Pandey, Robert T. Schultz, Tanya St. John, Jason J. Wolff, Mark D. Shen, Joseph Piven, Heather C. Hazlett, Jessica B. Girault

Published in: Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

Specifying early developmental differences among neurodevelopmental disorders with distinct etiologies is critical to improving early identification and tailored intervention during the first years of life. Recent studies have uncovered important differences between infants with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and infants with familial history of autism spectrum disorder who go on to develop autism themselves (FH-ASD), including differences in brain development and behavior. Thus far, there have been no studies longitudinally investigating differential developmental skill profiles in FXS and FH-ASD infants.

Methods

The current study contrasted longitudinal trajectories of verbal (expressive and receptive language) and nonverbal (gross and fine motor, visual reception) skills in FXS and FH-ASD infants, compared to FH infants who did not develop ASD (FH-nonASD) and typically developing controls.

Results

Infants with FXS showed delays on a nonverbal composite compared to FH-ASD (as well as FH-nonASD and control) infants as early as 6 months of age. By 12 months an ordinal pattern of scores was established between groups on all domains tested, such that controls > FH-nonASD > FH-ASD > FXS. This pattern persisted through 24 months. Cognitive level differentially influenced developmental trajectories for FXS and FH-ASD.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate detectable group differences by 6 months between FXS and FH-ASD as well as differential trajectories on each domain throughout infancy. This work further highlights an earlier onset of global cognitive delays in FXS and, conversely, a protracted period of more slowly emerging delays in FH-ASD. Divergent neural and cognitive development in infancy between FXS and FH-ASD contributes to our understanding of important distinctions in the development and behavioral phenotype of these two groups.

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Title: Differential cognitive and behavioral development from 6 to 24 months in autism and fragile X syndrome
Authors: Lindsay J. Mullin
Joshua Rutsohn
Julia L. Gross
Kelly E. Caravella
Rebecca L. Grzadzinski
Leigh Anne Weisenfeld
Lisa Flake
Kelly N. Botteron
Stephen R. Dager
Annette M. Estes
Juhi Pandey
Robert T. Schultz
Tanya St. John
Jason J. Wolff
Mark D. Shen
Joseph Piven
Heather C. Hazlett
Jessica B. Girault
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published in: Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Issue 1/2024
Print ISSN: 1866-1947
Electronic ISSN: 1866-1955
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-024-09519-y

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Differential cognitive and behavioral development from 6 to 24 months in autism and fragile X syndrome

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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