The Development of Younger Siblings of Children With Autism Now at 10 Years of Age

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Total Enrollment

104 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2008-09-30

Study Completion Date

2011-09-30

Brief Summary

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Background: Autism is a complex developmental disorder involving difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social-emotional functioning, and markedly restricted interests and activities. Strong evidence from research conducted with family members of children with autism supports the role of genetic factors in its etiology. Thus, some family members are characterized by the broad autism phenotype (BAP) which involves a clinical picture of milder but qualitatively similar difficulties.

Working hypothesis and aims: Researchers recently initiated prospective longitudinal studies investigating the early developmental profiles of young siblings of children with autism (SIBS-A). Such longitudinal SIBS-A study is currently conducted at the Hebrew University and includes the oldest siblings studied to date. Our main aim is to identify siblings who manifest any autism or BAP characteristics.

Methods: Two groups, SIBS-A (n = 42) and siblings of children with typical development (SIBS-TD, n = 62), were seen at ages 4, 14, 24, 36, 54 months and 7 years. We plan to continue the investigation at age 10 years, a time when school related abilities and social/emotional competences are more consolidated and to investigate the developmental trajectories of children's abilities from age 4 months to 10 years using growth curve analyses.

Expected results: We expect that compared to SIBS-TD, significantly more 10-year-old SIBS-A will display difficulties related to ASD or BAP related difficulties. We also expect to identify different patterns of stability and/or change in the development of children's abilities from age 4 months to 10 years, between the two groups.

Importance: This study provides a useful approach for the examination of the main research hypothesis regarding the development of SIBS-A. One of the main advantages of using the growth curve analysis is the identification of early predictive markers for future development.

Probable implications to Medicine: This research has significant implication for early identification and the search into the causes of autism and the BAP, as well as for implementation of early treatment and prevention programs. By highlighting expressions of ASD and the BAP in siblings, we may identify early clinically predictive behavioral markers associated with their onset and contribute to the investigation of underlying genetics mechanisms.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Autism Spectrum Disorders

Keywords

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Neurodevelopmental disorders Autism Spectrum Disorders Broader autism phenotype Siblings Cognitive language and social emotional development to identify siblings who manifest any autism or broader autism phenotype characteristics

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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1

Siblings of children with Autism

No interventions assigned to this group

2

Siblings of children with typical development

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* A group comprised intact families who had a child with autism.

* Intact families with a newborn and an older child who exhibited typical development with no history of any learning and/or emotional difficulties according to parental report

Minimum Eligible Age

10 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

11 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Responsible Party

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Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Neurology, Pediatric

Other Identifiers

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Siblings Autism.ctil

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id