Neonatal neurobehavior in infants with autism spectrum disorder

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jessica Bradshaw, University of South Carolina, Columbia; Dexin Shi, University of South Carolina, Columbia; Cassandra L Hendrix, New York University, Langone Health; Celine Saulnier, Emory University; Cheryl Klaiman, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-10-29
• Publisher: WILEY
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 Mac Keith Press
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.15096
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY
• Volume: 64
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 600
• End Page: 607
• Keywords: Neurosciences & Neurology; Clinical Neurology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; RISK; ATTENTION; Science & Technology; Pediatrics

Abstract

Aim: To investigate neurobehavioral maturation for neonates who are later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: In a prospective longitudinal design, neonatal neurobehavior was examined monthly in 1- to 3-month-old infants at elevated and low familial likelihood of ASD (n=60). At 2 years, infants were seen for a clinical best-estimate evaluation, resulting in 18 infants with ASD and 36 typically developing infants. Repeated-measures analysis of variance models were conducted to examine the effects of age, diagnostic group, and their interactions. Results: Neurobehavioral maturation of infants diagnosed with ASD was largely comparable to typically developing infants from 1 to 3 months, with the exception of the development of attention. Object-focused attention was significantly attenuated for infants with ASD beginning at 2 to 3 months and was predictive of social-communication skills 2 years later. Interpretation: This is the first study to prospectively examine neonatal neurobehavior of infants at an elevated familial likelihood of ASD who later received a diagnosis. Despite relatively intact neurological and behavioral maturation in the neonatal period, attention to objects emerged as a key early indicator of ASD. This suggests a complex attentional vulnerability within the first 3 months of life that may be associated with cascading sequelae of social-communication challenges and the emergence of ASD.