Subgrouping siblings of people with autism: Identifying the broader autism phenotype

Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research
Emily RuzichSimon Baron-Cohen

Abstract

We investigate the broader autism phenotype (BAP) in siblings of individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). Autistic traits were measured in typical controls (n = 2,000), siblings (n = 496), and volunteers with ASC (n = 2,322) using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), both self-report and parent-report versions. Using cluster analysis of AQ subscale scores, two sibling subgroups were identified for both males and females: a cluster of low-scorers and a cluster of high-scorers. Results show that while siblings as a group have intermediate levels of autistic traits compared to control individuals and participants with ASC, when examined on a cluster level, the low-scoring sibling group is more similar to typical controls while the high-scoring group is more similar to the ASC clinical group. Further investigation into the underlying genetic and epigenetic characteristics of these two subgroups will be informative in understanding autistic traits, both within the general population and in relation to those with a clinical diagnosis. Autism Res 2016, 9: 658-665. © 2015 The Authors Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Autism Research.

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Citations

Jul 8, 2016·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Emre BoraSezen Köse
Apr 11, 2017·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Steven VanmarckeJohan Wagemans
May 16, 2018·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Paula Morales-HidalgoJosefa Canals
Jan 10, 2019·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·A M KellermanS P Lane
Aug 7, 2019·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·James A Rankin, Theodore S Tomeny
Oct 6, 2016·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Claudia L HiltonJohn N Constantino
Aug 14, 2019·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Josephina HillusBettina Mohr
Jul 8, 2018·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Patricia AbbottRebecca A Charlton
Mar 30, 2017·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Jennifer L Stevenson, Kari R Hart
Oct 13, 2020·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Lauren A MasonKenneth R Paap
Feb 15, 2021·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Bettoni RobertaHermann Bulf
Apr 20, 2021·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Hung-Chen LinMu-Hong Chen
Jul 28, 2021·Human Molecular Genetics·Katherine W Eyring, Daniel H Geschwind

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