Asperger syndrome risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shakiba Hassanzadeh, MD[2]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Several risk factors associated with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and austim spectrum disorder (ASD) are: male gender, older parental age, family history of austim spectrum disorder (ASD), prematurity, low birth weight and pregnancy complications.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Risk Factors[edit | edit source]

Several risk factors have been associated with Asperger Syndrome:

• Male gender: The male to female ratio for austim spectrum disorder (ASD) is approximately 4 to 1.^[1]
• Family history of austim spectrum disorder (ASD)^[2][3][4]
• Race: AS has been reported to be 7% and 22% higher among white children compared to black and Hispanic children.^[5]
• Other risk factors associated with austim spectrum disorder (ASD) include:^[6]
  • Advanced maternal age
  • Advanced paternal age
  • Low birth weight
  • Prematurity
  • Hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal jaundice
  • Maternal immigrant status  
  • Pregnancy complications such as eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension
  • Air pollutants (traffic-related)
    

References[edit | edit source]