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Molecular Autism
Published in: Molecular Autism 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Research

Maternal age, autistic-like traits and mentalizing as predictors of child autistic-like traits in a population-based cohort

Authors: Novika Purnama Sari, Pauline W. Jansen, Laura M. E. Blanken, Amber N. V. Ruigrok, Peter Prinzie, Henning Tiemeier, Simon Baron-Cohen, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Tonya White

Published in: Molecular Autism | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

Many empirical studies suggest that higher maternal age increases the likelihood of having an autistic child. However, little is known about factors that may explain this relationship or if higher maternal age is related to the number of autistic-like traits in offspring. One possibility is that mothers who have a higher number of autistic-like traits, including greater challenges performing mentalizing skills, are delayed in finding a partner. The goal of our study is to assess the relationship between maternal age, mentalizing skills and autistic-like traits as independent predictors of the number of autistic-like traits in offspring.

Methods

In a population-based study in the Netherlands, information on maternal age was collected during pre- and perinatal enrolment. Maternal mentalizing skills and autistic-like traits were assessed using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test and the Autism Spectrum Quotient, respectively. Autistic-like traits in children were assessed with the Social Responsiveness Scale. A total of 5718 mother/child dyads had complete data (Magechild = 13.5 years; 50.2% girls).

Results

The relationship between maternal age and autistic-like traits in offspring best fits a U-shaped curve. Furthermore, higher levels of autistic features in mothers are linked to higher levels of autistic-like traits in their children. Lower mentalizing performance in mothers is linked to higher levels of autistic-like traits in their children.

Limitations

We were able to collect data on both autistic-like traits and the mentalizing skills test in a large population of mothers, but we did not collect these data in a large number of the fathers.

Conclusions

The relationships between older and younger mothers may have comparable underlying mechanisms, but it is also possible that the tails of the U-shaped curve are influenced by disparate mechanisms.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Maternal age, autistic-like traits and mentalizing as predictors of child autistic-like traits in a population-based cohort
Authors
Novika Purnama Sari
Pauline W. Jansen
Laura M. E. Blanken
Amber N. V. Ruigrok
Peter Prinzie
Henning Tiemeier
Simon Baron-Cohen
Marinus H. van IJzendoorn
Tonya White
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Autism / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 2040-2392
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00507-4

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