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Molecular Autism
Published in: Molecular Autism 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Etiological influences on the stability of autistic traits from childhood to early adulthood: evidence from a twin study

Authors: Mark J. Taylor, Christopher Gillberg, Paul Lichtenstein, Sebastian Lundström

Published in: Molecular Autism | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are persistent and lifelong conditions. Despite this, almost all twin studies focus on childhood. This twin study investigated the stability of autistic traits from childhood to early adulthood and explored the degree to which any stability could be explained by genetic or environmental factors.

Methods

Parents of over 2500 twin pairs completed questionnaires assessing autistic traits when twins were aged either 9 or 12 years and again when twins were aged 18. Bivariate twin analysis assessed the degree of phenotypic and etiological stability in autistic traits across this period. Genetic overlap in autistic traits across development was also tested in individuals displaying a broad ASD phenotype, defined as scoring within the highest 5% of the sample.

Results

Autistic traits displayed moderate phenotypic stability (r = .39). The heritability of autistic traits was 76–77% in childhood and 60–62% in adulthood. A moderate degree of genetic influences on childhood autistic traits were carried across into adulthood (genetic correlation = .49). The majority (85%) of the stability in autistic traits was attributable to genetic factors. Genetic influences on autistic traits were moderately stable from childhood to early adulthood at the extremes (genetic correlation = .64).

Conclusions

Broad autistic traits display moderate phenotypic and etiological stability from childhood to early adulthood. Genetic factors accounted for almost all phenotypic stability, although there was some phenotypic and etiological instability in autistic traits. Thus, autistic traits in adulthood are influenced by a combination of enduring and unique genetic factors.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Etiological influences on the stability of autistic traits from childhood to early adulthood: evidence from a twin study
Authors
Mark J. Taylor
Christopher Gillberg
Paul Lichtenstein
Sebastian Lundström
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Autism / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2040-2392
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-017-0120-5

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