Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42640439›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

Developmental Trajectories of Autistic Traits in Infants With Autism and/or ADHD Family History: Predictors and Mid-Childhood Outcomes.

Tony Charman, Tessel Bazelmans, Greg Pasco, Jannath Begum Ali, Emily J H Jones, Mark H Johnson, BASIS/STAARS Team

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Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Tony CharmanInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. tony.charman@kcl.ac.uk.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1993-6549
Tessel BazelmansInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9623-0473
Greg PascoInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0290-6124
Jannath Begum AliCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8853-0537
Emily J H JonesInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5747-9540
Mark H JohnsonCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4229-2585
BASIS/STAARS Team

Funding

HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council 101057385IMI No 777394Medical Research Council G0701484Medical Research Council MR/K021389/1Medical Research Council MR/R011427/1Medical Research Council MR/T003057/1Medical Research Council MR/X010716/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAutism is both a developmental and heterogeneous condition, with individual variation in the timing and shape of autistic symptom trajectories over time, as recognised by the concept of 'chronogeneity'. Prospective infant autism family history studies are well-suited to examining developmental trajectory variability, a key aspect of autism trait heterogeneity.

methodsWe examined autistic trait trajectories in a large sample of infants with autism and/or ADHD family history (N = 384) followed from infancy to mid-childhood. Using group-based multi-trajectory modelling, we identified classes with distinct trajectories across three autism trait measures taken at six, five, and four timepoints, respectively, between 5 months and 9 years.

resultsA 5-class solution provided the best fit. Three classes included 50-75% children meeting autism diagnostic criteria at 3 years or mid-childhood, with distinct differences in timing, onset, and developmental patterns of autistic traits. Two classes were predominantly typically developing, with one characterised as 'slow starters'. Background characteristics including autism/ADHD family history, sex, maternal education, and household income (but not ethnicity) predicted class membership. Mid-childhood outcomes-IQ, adaptive function, autism and ADHD traits, anxiety and behavioural difficulties-differed across trajectory classes.

conclusionThe timing and developmental course of autistic traits-independent of trait level-relate meaningfully to infant and family characteristics, diagnostic timing, and mid-childhood outcomes. These findings support chronogeneity as a valuable framework for understanding autism heterogeneity in family history studies. The trajectory classes identified here are descriptive; future studies should examine their replicability, and explanatory and mechanistic value.

Indexed as

ADHDAutismDevelopmental trajectoriesFamily history infantsOutcomesPredictors

Identifiers

PMID42640439

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