TY - JOUR
T1 - Telomere Length and Autism Spectrum Disorder Within the Family
T2 - Relationships With Cognition and Sensory Symptoms
AU - Lewis, Candace R.
AU - Taguinod, Francis
AU - Jepsen, Wayne M.
AU - Cohen, Jorey
AU - Agrawal, Komal
AU - Huentelman, Matthew J.
AU - Smith, Christopher J.
AU - Ringenbach, Shannon D.R.
AU - Braden, B. Blair
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was funded by the Helios Foundation (TGen) and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust (ASU).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2020/7/1
Y1 - 2020/7/1
N2 - Telomeres are repetitive noncoding deoxynucleotide sequences that cap chromosomes to protect DNA. Telomere length (TL) is affected by both genetic and environmental factors, and shortening of telomeres is associated with multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, early life stress, and age-related cognitive dysfunction. Two previous studies associated shorter TL with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We aimed to replicate this finding, describe TL in unaffected siblings, and explore novel relationships with symptoms and cognitive function in families with ASD. Participants were 212 male children and adolescents ages 1–17 years (86 with ASD, 57 unaffected siblings, and 69 typically developing [TD]) and 64 parents. TL was measured from blood leukocytes with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and results are expressed by relative ratios with a single copy gene. We replicated that children and adolescents with ASD have shorter TL, compared to TD, and show that unaffected siblings have TL in between those of TD and ASD. We present novel associations between TL and sensory symptoms in ASD. Finally, we demonstrate cognitive functions, but not autistic traits, are related to TL in parents of children with ASD. Cognitive function and TL were not related in children and adolescents. As the third replication, our results elicit confidence in the finding that ASD is associated with shorter TL. Our novel sensory investigation suggests that shortened TL may be a biological mechanism of sensory symptoms in ASD. Furthermore, results highlight the need to better understand relationships between cognition, aging, and TL in families with ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1094-1101.
AB - Telomeres are repetitive noncoding deoxynucleotide sequences that cap chromosomes to protect DNA. Telomere length (TL) is affected by both genetic and environmental factors, and shortening of telomeres is associated with multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, early life stress, and age-related cognitive dysfunction. Two previous studies associated shorter TL with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We aimed to replicate this finding, describe TL in unaffected siblings, and explore novel relationships with symptoms and cognitive function in families with ASD. Participants were 212 male children and adolescents ages 1–17 years (86 with ASD, 57 unaffected siblings, and 69 typically developing [TD]) and 64 parents. TL was measured from blood leukocytes with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and results are expressed by relative ratios with a single copy gene. We replicated that children and adolescents with ASD have shorter TL, compared to TD, and show that unaffected siblings have TL in between those of TD and ASD. We present novel associations between TL and sensory symptoms in ASD. Finally, we demonstrate cognitive functions, but not autistic traits, are related to TL in parents of children with ASD. Cognitive function and TL were not related in children and adolescents. As the third replication, our results elicit confidence in the finding that ASD is associated with shorter TL. Our novel sensory investigation suggests that shortened TL may be a biological mechanism of sensory symptoms in ASD. Furthermore, results highlight the need to better understand relationships between cognition, aging, and TL in families with ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1094-1101.
KW - autism spectrum disorder
KW - cognition
KW - sensory
KW - telomere
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U2 - 10.1002/aur.2307
DO - 10.1002/aur.2307
M3 - Article
C2 - 32323911
AN - SCOPUS:85083801992
SN - 1939-3792
VL - 13
SP - 1094
EP - 1101
JO - Autism Research
JF - Autism Research
IS - 7
ER -