University of Iowa
The University of Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development is researching how pregnancy, early childhood experiences, and genetic factors influence child development, with a focus on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Pregnant women are invited to participate in a study that tracks their pregnancy and child's early development, through simple, at-home activities using a cell phone. Participants complete short questionnaires, join an online interview, and videotape their baby's play after birth. They are also sent a kit to swab their baby's mouth to collect cheek cells for genetic testing. The study will explore whether stress and early social experience lead to genetic changes associated with autism or other developmental conditions.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities, adversely affecting an increasing number of families worldwide. Although its etiology is strongly linked to genetic factors, perinatal experience, including prenatal stress and post-natal social experience, may also contribute to deficits in social communication in ASD, potentially via epigenetic mechanisms. For example, the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is epigenetically altered by early social experience, plays a crucial role in mammalian social and cognitive development, and is associated with both gen…
Inclusion Criteria: A. Criteria for Pregnant Women: 1. Pregnant women in their 1st or 2nd trimester of a singleton pregnancy. 2. Age 18 to 50 years 3. Currently use a smart phone B. ASD Group at age 18 to 27 months 1. M-CHAT score \>= 4 or POSI score \>= 3 2. Child has subsequently clinically confirmed diagnosis of ASD, based on ADOS/TAP testing and/or other clinical evaluation C. Developmental Delay (DD) Group at age 18 to 27-months 1. Developmental screening score on SWYC in the "at risk" range. 2. Child has subsequently clinically confirmed developmental delay on clinical evaluation a…
DNA methylation in pre-specified regions will be compared between birth, 24 and 30 months.
Perinatal stress will be measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Social Provisions Scale (SPS-10), and ecological momentary assessments of stress, anxiety and sadness.
The child's early social experience will be measured directly using videotaped mother-child interaction coded using the CARE-Index, and indirectly using the Adult Attachment Interview.
Genomic data will be used to calculate polygenic risk scores for social communication and repetitive behavior.
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