ArticleMolecular autism2024
Fetal brain growth and infant autistic traits.
Article in Molecular autism, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- The early life growth of head circumference, weight, and height in infants with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review.BMC pediatrics · 2023Pooled it
- Association of fetal ultrasound anthropometric parameters with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months of age.PloS one · 2023Trial
- Functional Connectivity of the Neonatal Cerebellum is Impacted by Sex and Polygenic Liability for Autism.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- A null findings study: graph theoretical analysis of the fetal functional connectome shows no relationships with future autistic traits.Neuroimage. Reports · 2026Article
- Head Growth Trajectories During the First Year of Life and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2026Article
- Prenatal Ultrasound-Detected Structural Anomalies Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review.Consortium psychiatricum · 2026Review
- Fetal functional connectivity prospectively associates with autistic traits in toddlerhood.NeuroImage. Clinical · 2026Article
- Head circumference growth in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: trend and clinical correlates in the first five years of life.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundStructural differences exist in the brains of autistic individuals. To date only a few studies have explored the relationship between fetal brain growth and later infant autistic traits, and some have used fetal head circumference (HC) as a proxy for brain development. These findings have been inconsistent. Here we investigate whether fetal subregional brain measurements correlate with autistic traits in toddlers.
methodsA total of 219 singleton pregnancies (104 males and 115 females) were recruited at the Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, UK. 2D ultrasound was performed at 12-, 20- and between 26 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, measuring head circumference (HC), ventricular atrium (VA) and transcerebellar diameter (TCD). A total of 179 infants were followed up at 18-20 months of age and completed the quantitative checklist for autism in toddlers (Q-CHAT) to measure autistic traits.
resultsQ-CHAT scores at 18-20 months of age were positively associated with TCD size at 20 weeks and with HC at 28 weeks, in univariate analyses, and in multiple regression models which controlled for sex, maternal age and birth weight. LIMITATIONS: Due to the nature and location of the study, ascertainment bias could also have contributed to the recruitment of volunteer mothers with a higher than typical range of autistic traits and/or with a significant interest in the neurodevelopment of their children.
conclusionPrenatal brain growth is associated with toddler autistic traits and this can be ascertained via ultrasound starting at 20 weeks gestation.
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Registered trials
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