Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 3275 - The potential influence of obstetric complications and parental characteristics on cognition in autism spectrum disorders |
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| Contribution code | PS03-20 (P) |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
Objectives Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) conform a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with an oligogenetic, multifactorial aetiology [Parellada et al., 2014]. Compelling evidence supports the influence of obstetric and parental psychiatric variables on the risk of ASD [Kolevzon et al., 2007] and as potential predictors of autism severity [Wallace et al., 2008]. We aimed to assess the potential association of parental characteristics, obstetric complications and early clinical presentation with cognitive performance in patients with ASD. Methods Eighty-one patients (mean age 15.8 ±7.7 SD [5-46] years, 93.8% male, 95.1% caucasian) with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of ASD was recruited at Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Intelligence quotient (IQ) was assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children or Adults, as appropriate. Pearson correlation analyses and multiple linear regression were used to assess the potential association of IQ with the following predictors: parental age at birth, parental psychiatric history of anxiety or depression, birthweight, history of obstetric complications (OCs) evaluated with the Lewis-Murray Obstetric Complications Scale, epilepsy and developmental regression, and age of onset of autism symptoms. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 18 and a statistically significance threshold p<0.05. Results Mean IQ in the ASD sample was 83.6 ±24SD [40-135]. Mean maternal age at birth was 32 ±4.1SD [20-42] years mean paternal age at birth was 34.6 ±5.6SD [20-49] years. 58.3% of the parents had a positive psychiatric history. Mean birth weight for participants was 3351 ±480.6SD [2300-4500] g. 83.7% had a positive history of OCs, 22.9% had a diagnosis of epilepsy and 7.5% had a positive history of developmental regression. In the bivariate analyses, IQ was significantly correlated with birthweight (r=.248, p=.03), maternal age (r=-.254, p=.029) and paternal age (r=-.313, p=.007) at birth. Paternal age at birth was identified as the single predictor of IQ in the multiple regression analyses, controlling for age, sex and ethnicity (B=-1.323; p=.007; R2=.088). Conclusions Older paternal age at birth appears to be associated with lower IQ in people with ASD. According to recent literature, deeply research in mechanisms through which parental age is related to autism risk and also with differences in cognition in this population is highly required. |