Associations Between the 2nd to 4th Digit Ratio and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Population-Based Samples of Boys and Girls: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Autism Dev Disord
• Personal Author:
  Schieve, Laura A. ; Tian, Lin ; Dowling, Nicole ; Croen, Lisa ; Hoover-Fong, Julie ; Alexander, Aimee ; Shapira, Stuart K.
• Description:
  The ratio of the index (2nd) finger to ring (4th) finger lengths (2D:4D) is a proxy for fetal testosterone and estradiol. Studies suggesting 2D:4D is inversely associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in males were limited by lack of confounder and subgroup assessments. Studies of females are sparse. We examined associations between ASD and 2D:4D among children in the Study to Explore Early Development; we considered case subgroups and numerous potential demographic and maternal-perinatal health confounders. We observed a modest inverse association between ASD and right-hand 2D:4D in males; subgroup analyses indicated associations were limited to ASD cases with birth defects/genetic syndromes or dysmorphic features. We observed a positive association between ASD and left-hand 2D:4D in females, overall and within most case subgroups.
• Subjects:
  Article Autism Spectrum Disorder Estradiol Fetal Development Testosterone
• Source:
  J Autism Dev Disord. 48(7):2379-2395
• Pubmed ID:
  29450837
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5997499
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U10DD000184/CC/CDC HHS/United States ; U10 DD000180/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; U10DD000181/CC/CDC HHS/United States ; U10DD000498/CC/CDC HHS/United States ; U10DD000180/CC/CDC HHS/United States ; U10 DD000181/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; U10DD000183/CC/CDC HHS/United States ; U10 DD000184/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; U01 DD000498/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/United States ; U10 DD000182/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States ; U10DD000182/CC/CDC HHS/United States ; U10 DD000183/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States
• Volume:
  48
• Issue:
  7
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:ef9bf46b405e261071abac4fec9e6a50934e7c848f3ada31666297a9fdb3c826
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/55855/cdc_55855_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 145.85 KB ]