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Cited by 88Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersGenetic Associations and Epidemiology

A twin study of autism symptoms in Sweden

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Ronald, A, Larsson, H, Anckarsäter, H, Lichtenstein, P·2011·Molecular Psychiatry
DOI 10.1038/mp.2010.82
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Abstract

This study aimed to identify empirically the number of factors underlying autism symptoms-social impairments, communication impairments, and restricted repetitive behaviors and interests-when assessed in a general population sample. It also investigated to what extent these autism symptoms are caused by the same or different genetic and environmental influences. Autistic symptoms were assessed in a population-based twin cohort of >12,000 (9- and 12-year-old) children by parental interviews. Confirmatory factor analyses, principal component analyses and multivariate structural equation model fitting were carried out. A multiple factor solution was suggested, with nearly all analyses pointing to a three-factor model for both boys and girls and at both ages. A common pathway twin model fit the data best, which showed that there were some underlying common genetic and environmental influences across the different autism dimensions, but also significant specific genetic effects on each symptom type. These results suggest that the autism triad consists of three partly independent dimensions when assessed in the general population, and that these different autism symptoms, to a considerable extent, have partly separate genetic influences. These findings may explain the large number of children who do not meet current criteria for autism but who show some autism symptoms. Molecular genetic research may benefit from taking a symptom-specific approach to finding genes associated with autism.

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Authors
Ronald, A., Larsson, H., Anckarsäter, H., & Lichtenstein, P.
Affiliations
  • University of London (GB)
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • University of Gothenburg (SE)
Corresponding author
Ronald, A
ORCID
Venue
Molecular Psychiatry
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2010-07-20
Volume
16
Issue
10
Pages
1039-1047
ISSN
  • 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5578
DOI
10.1038/mp.2010.82
OpenAlex
W2116473568
Cited by
88
References
34
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 8
FWCI
6.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • BIROn (Birkbeck, University of London) (submittedVersion)
  • Trinity's Access to Research Output (TARA) (Trinity College Dublin) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Keywords
autism symptoms, social dysfunction, communication disorders, restricted and repetitive behaviors, genetic factors, environmental influences, twin studies, factor structure, children, autism spectrum disorder
MeSH terms
Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Communication, Diseases in Twins, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Risk Factors, Social Behavior, Models, Statistical, Cohort Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease

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