New research reveals higher autism risk among siblings of autistic children, with key factors influencing recurrence rates.
- Siblings of autistic children have a 20% chance of being autistic themselves, a rate that is significantly higher than infants with no autistic siblings.
- This key finding comes from a new study led by UC Davis MIND Institute researcher Sally Ozonoff and the Baby Siblings Research Consortium.
- The research, published in Pediatrics, is based on a diverse group of families from various research sites across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
- Factors such as the sex of the first autistic child in a family, the number of autistic siblings, race, and maternal education level were found to influence the likelihood of autism recurrence within a family.
- Providers are encouraged to closely monitor siblings of autistic children for developmental delays, especially in families with reduced access to care, as early diagnosis and intervention are crucial.
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Pediatrics, Autism, Family Medicine