Risk and resilience in autism spectrum disorder: a missed translational opportunity?
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The objective of this review is to provide a narrative summary of risk and resiliency in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over the lifespan. In recent years, much has been learned about risk factors for ASD which include both genetic and environmental mechanisms. Resiliency in ASD is much less studied but examples can be gleaned by exploring studies that allow for heterogeneity in causation and outcome. Possible examples come from the literature on sex difference, infant siblings, and natural history. Exciting translational opportunities can be achieved through a greater focus on understanding protective factors and resiliency in ASD than the field's almost exclusive focus on risk factors and the ability to predict poor outcomes. Although the exact nature of processes that protect in ASD are not yet known, putting a resiliency lens on research and clinical practice may prove illuminating. What this paper adds: Resiliency in autism spectrum disorder is a function of the vast variation seen in etiology and outcome. A focus on strengthening protective factors may improve long‐term outcome.
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During adulthood, for cognitively-able adults, parental roles might shift to more traditional relationships, whereas for those with cognitive disability, parental caregiving often continues and culminates in planning for late life needs.
“During adulthood, for cognitively-able adults, parental roles might shift to more traditional relationships 241 , whereas for those with cognitive disability, parental caregiving often continues and culminates in planning for late life needs 242 .”
From Autism spectrum disorder (2020) · cites this paper as [242]
Citation 242 is attached to the claim about continued parental caregiving and planning for late-life needs among adults with cognitive disability. The Natural history section discusses positive parenting and outcomes for adolescents and adults with autism, but does not address continued caregiving or late-life planning. Searches for parental care, cognitive disability, and late-life needs found no passage addressing that claim. (LLM, conf=0.75)
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- Authors
- Szatmari, P.
- Affiliations
- Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto Toronto Canada
- ORCID
- Szatmari, Peter
- Venue
- Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-10-04
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 225-229
- ISSN
- 0012-1622 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8749
- OpenAlex
- W2761650555
- Cited by
- 56
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 0.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, resilience, risk factors, protective factors, genetic etiology, environmental risk factors, sex differences, infant siblings, natural history (disease), lifespan development, long-term outcomes, translational research
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Humans, Risk Factors, Sex Characteristics, Siblings, Resilience, Psychological
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