Autism Heterogeneity Related to Preterm Birth: Multi-Ancestry Results From the Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge Sample.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shows significant clinical variability, likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Preterm birth is a known risk factor for ASD, occurring in approximately 13% of diagnosed individuals. While genetic factors contribute to preterm birth in the general population, the relationship between genetic variation, preterm birth, and ASD heterogeneity remains unclear.

Methods

We investigated the genetic factors associated with preterm birth in 31,947 autistic individuals using data from the SPARK (Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge) sample. We conducted 3 ancestry-specific genome-wide association studies for African/African American, admixed American, and non-Finnish European ancestries, followed by

SUBMITTER: Chatzigeorgiou C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12662992 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature