Infants at Risk of Autism: A Longitudinal Study

University Of California At Davis, Davis CA

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal responds to NOT-OD-09-058, "Recovery Act Funds for Competitive Revision Applications." This revision application will support new research aims that are outside the scope of the currently funded parent grant, "Infants at Risk of Autism: A longitudinal Study" (2 R01 MH068398-06;1/1/09 - 12/31/13;PI Ozonoff). The parent study examines the earliest possible behavioral indices of autism, but the original aims did not include potential biological markers. Responding to three NIMH areas of interest outlined in the RFA ("Biological Measures for the Study of Mental Disorders, "Understanding Postnatal Brain Development," and "Supporting Longitudinal Neuroimaging Studies in Mental Disorders"), we propose to increase the scope of the parent grant by evaluating brain structure and developmental trajectory as possible early biological markers of autism. We propose to carry out a longitudinal neuroimaging study to investigate brain growth during a critical period of development in autism. High resolution structural MRI will be combined with diffusion-weighted imaging and resting state functional connectivity MRI to evaluate multiple aspects of brain organization in infants at risk for autism. Through the parent study, two groups will be recruited: a high risk group of 40 male infant siblings of children with autism and a low risk group of 20 male infant siblings of children with typical development. They will be imaged beginning at 6-9 months of age and followed at six-month intervals for a total of three time points. At the end of the two year grant period, we will have acquired a rich dataset of 180 scans of infants ranging from 6-21 months of age. Through the parent grant, outcomes of Autism/ASD, Other Delays, or Typical Development are determined at 24 and 36 months of age. We will then compare brain maturation trajectories for the different outcome groups. The parent grant provides a unique opportunity for prospectively evaluating the very early abnormal brain development that has been reported in children with autism. The combined parent and revision projects have the potential to identify both behavioral and biological markers for very early autism and ultimately contribute towards the early identification and treatment of autism. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in as many as 1 in 150 children, but is rarely diagnosed before the age of 3. Earlier detection could lead to earlier interventions and reduction of lifelong disability. The aim of the revision study is to identify changes in brain structure and connectivity in infancy that may be present before the clinical diagnosis of autism is made and indicate increased risk for development of the disorder.