Using the Infant Sibling-Design to Explore Associations Between Autism and ADHD Traits in Probands and Temperament in the Younger Siblings.
Linn Andersson Konke, Terje Falck-Ytter, Emily J H Jones and 2 others
PMID 37355531WHAT IT FOUND
In families with an autistic older child, higher autistic traits in the sibling linked to lower approach in the infant, while higher ADHD traits linked to higher activity.
These were small associations, not predictions of a diagnosis.
Key findings
01Higher levels of autistic traits in the older sibling were associated with lower approach scores in the infant, even after accounting for ADHD traits.
02Higher levels of ADHD traits in the older sibling were associated with higher activity levels in the infant.
03Associations were modest, and links to soothability and fear did not survive statistical correction for multiple comparisons.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
All data came from parent reports, which can be influenced by the parent's own perceptions or stress levels. The study only looked at associations at one point in time, so it cannot tell if these temperament traits lead to later diagnoses. There was a significant amount of missing data for the older siblings' ADHD and autism scores, which had to be estimated statistically. The two study sites (UK and Sweden) had different results for some traits, such as soothability, which was only significant in the UK cohort. The infants were very young (7-12 months), so these early temperament signs may change as they grow.
Declared interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these temperament scores as a diagnosis. The associations were modest, and many other factors influence whether an infant with a family history of autism will actually develop the condition.