Abstract
AbstractBackgroundA significant proportion of variation in likelihood of neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) has been attributed to nonshared environmental (NSE) factors, although it remains unclear which NSE factors pose specific risks for certain NDCs.MethodsA monozygotic co-twin design was applied in a sample of 224 twins (mean age = 17.70 years, SD = 6.28) controlling for confounders such as genes and shared environment. Generalized estimating equation models were fitted, using perinatal and postnatal indications of NSEs as exposure, operationalized both as separate risk factors and as cumulative risk loads. Categorical and dimensional operationalizations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability and other NDCs were used as outcomes.ResultsBirth weight discordance was associated with dimensional autism and ADHD for the smaller twin, and medication during infancy was associated with dimensional autism. Among postnatal factors scarlet fever during early childhood was associated with lower IQ. Especially autism was associated with a greater cumulative perinatal or postnatal risk load.LimitationsWhen exploring the associations between each condition and specific NSEs the risk of being statistically underpowered increases. Hence, we limit the reported findings on specific indicators of NSEs to trait levels and present descriptive data for categorical NDCs.ConclusionsThe findings support previous research by indicating an association between exposure to perinatal and postnatal risks and subsequent NDCs within twin pairs and suggest that autism may be especially linked to accumulative early environmental risks. The findings are potentially important for developmental outcomes prognoses and may inform targeted prevention and early interventions.
Funder
Vetenskapsrådet
VINNOVA
Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
Hjärnfonden
Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd
Stockholm Brain Institute
Autism and Asperger Association Stockholm
Queen Silvia Jubilee Fund
Stiftelsen Solstickan
PRIMA Child and Adult Psychiatry
the Pediatric Research Foundation at Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital
Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning
Stiftelsen Sven Jerrings Fond
Svenska Frimurarorden
Stiftelsen Kempe-Carlgrenska Fonden
Stiftelsen Sunnerdahls Handikappfond
Jeanssons Stiftelser
EU-AIMS
the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking
European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
Karolinska Institute
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Developmental Biology,Developmental Neuroscience,Molecular Biology
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