Distinct Neurodevelopmental Trajectories in Groups of Very Preterm Children Screening Positively for Autism Spectrum Conditions

Laila Hadaya; Lucy Vanes; Vyacheslav Karolis; Dana Kanel; Marguerite Leoni; Francesca Happé; A David Edwards; Serena J Counsell; Dafnis Batalle; Chiara Nosarti

doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05789-4

Distinct Neurodevelopmental Trajectories in Groups of Very Preterm Children Screening Positively for Autism Spectrum Conditions

J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Jan;54(1):256-269. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05789-4. Epub 2022 Oct 23.

Authors

Laila Hadaya^{1

2}, Lucy Vanes^{1

2}, Vyacheslav Karolis^{1

3}, Dana Kanel^{1

2}, Marguerite Leoni⁴, Francesca Happé⁴, A David Edwards¹, Serena J Counsell¹, Dafnis Batalle^{1

5}, Chiara Nosarti^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for the Developing Brain, Department of Perinatal Imaging and Health, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
² Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
³ Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
⁴ Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
⁵ Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
⁶ Centre for the Developing Brain, Department of Perinatal Imaging and Health, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK. [email protected].
⁷ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK. [email protected].

Abstract

Very preterm (VPT; < 33 weeks' gestation) toddlers screening positively for autism spectrum conditions (ASC) may display heterogenous neurodevelopmental trajectories. Here we studied neonatal brain volumes and childhood ASC traits evaluated with the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) in VPT-born toddlers (N = 371; median age 20.17 months) sub-divided into three groups based on their Modified-Checklist for Autism in Toddlers scores. These were: those screening positively failing at least 2 critical items (critical-positive); failing any 3 items, but less than 2 critical items (non-critical-positive); and screening negatively. Critical-positive scorers had smaller neonatal cerebellar volumes compared to non-critical-positive and negative scorers. However, both positive screening groups exhibited higher childhood ASC traits compared to the negative screening group, suggesting distinct aetiological trajectories associated with ASC outcomes.

Keywords: Autism spectrum conditions; Developmental delay; Structural MRI; Very preterm birth.

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
Cerebellum / abnormalities*
Child
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive* / diagnosis
Developmental Disabilities
Humans
Infant
Infant, Extremely Premature
Infant, Newborn
Mass Screening
Nervous System Malformations*

Supplementary concepts

Cerebellar Hypoplasia

Abstract

MeSH terms

Supplementary concepts

Grants and funding