View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

A Longitudinal Study of Head Circumference Trajectories in Autism and Autistic Traits.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: A Longitudinal Study of Head Circumference Trajectories in Autism and Autistic Traits.
Authors: Ashley, Sarah A. (AUTHOR), Merritt, Kate (AUTHOR), Solmi, Francesca (AUTHOR), Laguna, Pedro L. (AUTHOR), Reichenberg, Abraham (AUTHOR), David, Anthony S. (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Feb2026, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p808-818. 11p.
Subjects: Brain physiology, Diagnosis of autism, Research funding, Data analysis, T-test (Statistics), Neural development, Cephalometry, Multivariate analysis, Descriptive statistics, Longitudinal method, Statistics, Asperger's syndrome, Data analysis software, Regression analysis
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: Increased head circumference is an established finding in autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, it is unclear when this increase occurs, if it persists and whether it manifests across the whole ASD spectrum. Head circumference is a strong predictor of brain size and can therefore provide key insights into brain development in ASD. We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to compare head circumference trajectories from birth to 15 years in children with an ASD diagnosis (N = 78, controls = 6,404) or elevated autistic traits as measured using the Social Communication Disorder Checklist (N = 639, controls = 6,230). Exploratory analyses were conducted in those with ASD and co-morbid cognitive learning needs (CLN). Children with an ASD diagnosis had larger head circumference from birth across childhood and adolescence compared to controls in univariable (B = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28–1.09, p = 0.001) and multivariable models (B = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.003–0.75, p = 0.048). Differences were more marked in those with co-morbid CLN. Children with elevated autistic traits had significantly smaller head circumference compared to controls. There was weak evidence of group differences when height was included as a covariate. Head circumference trajectories in ASD deviate from control children and persist until adolescence. Autistic traits were associated with smaller head circumference, suggesting distinct growth trajectories between clinical cases from those with non-clinical traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 191290387
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: A Longitudinal Study of Head Circumference Trajectories in Autism and Autistic Traits.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ashley%2C+Sarah+A%2E%22">Ashley, Sarah A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Merritt%2C+Kate%22">Merritt, Kate</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Solmi%2C+Francesca%22">Solmi, Francesca</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laguna%2C+Pedro+L%2E%22">Laguna, Pedro L.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reichenberg%2C+Abraham%22">Reichenberg, Abraham</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David%2C+Anthony+S%2E%22">David, Anthony S.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Autism+%26+Developmental+Disorders%22">Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p808-818. 11p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brain+physiology%22">Brain physiology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diagnosis+of+autism%22">Diagnosis of autism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis%22">Data analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22T-test+%28Statistics%29%22">T-test (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neural+development%22">Neural development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cephalometry%22">Cephalometry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multivariate+analysis%22">Multivariate analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+method%22">Longitudinal method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistics%22">Statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asperger's+syndrome%22">Asperger's syndrome</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Regression+analysis%22">Regression analysis</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Increased head circumference is an established finding in autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, it is unclear when this increase occurs, if it persists and whether it manifests across the whole ASD spectrum. Head circumference is a strong predictor of brain size and can therefore provide key insights into brain development in ASD. We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to compare head circumference trajectories from birth to 15 years in children with an ASD diagnosis (N = 78, controls = 6,404) or elevated autistic traits as measured using the Social Communication Disorder Checklist (N = 639, controls = 6,230). Exploratory analyses were conducted in those with ASD and co-morbid cognitive learning needs (CLN). Children with an ASD diagnosis had larger head circumference from birth across childhood and adolescence compared to controls in univariable (B = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28–1.09, p = 0.001) and multivariable models (B = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.003–0.75, p = 0.048). Differences were more marked in those with co-morbid CLN. Children with elevated autistic traits had significantly smaller head circumference compared to controls. There was weak evidence of group differences when height was included as a covariate. Head circumference trajectories in ASD deviate from control children and persist until adolescence. Autistic traits were associated with smaller head circumference, suggesting distinct growth trajectories between clinical cases from those with non-clinical traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=191290387
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10803-024-06578-x
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 808
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Brain physiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diagnosis of autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: T-test (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Neural development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cephalometry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multivariate analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Asperger's syndrome
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Regression analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Longitudinal Study of Head Circumference Trajectories in Autism and Autistic Traits.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ashley, Sarah A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Merritt, Kate
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Solmi, Francesca
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Laguna, Pedro L.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Reichenberg, Abraham
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: David, Anthony S.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Text: Feb2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 01623257
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 56
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders
              Type: main
ResultId 1