The paper uses structural equation modeling to identify three genetic factors linked to language/cognition, behavior, and motor development in ASD, revealing novel associations and simplex-specific genetic overlaps.

Nature Communications · Feb 27, 2024Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Meta-analysis of epigenome-wide associations between DNA methylation at birth and childhood cognitive skills.

Doretta Caramaschi, Alexander Neumann, Andrés Cárdenas, Gwen N. Tindula, Silvia Alemany, Lea Zillich, Giancarlo Pesce, Jari M. T. Lahti, Alexandra Havdahl, Rosa H. Mulder, Janine F. Felix, Henning W. Tiemeier, Lea Sirignano, Josef Frank, Stephanie H. Witt, , Gemma C. Sharp

This study examines DNA methylation at birth and its association with childhood cognitive skills, finding weak single CpG site associations and one region near DUSP22 linked to non-verbal cognition.

Molecular Psychiatry · Feb 10, 2022Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology

Mapping the genetic and environmental aetiology of autistic traits in Sweden and the United Kingdom

Zoe E. Reed, Henrik Larsson, Claire M. A. Haworth, Dheeraj Rai, Sebastian Lundström, Angelica Ronald, Abraham Reichenberg, Paul Lichtenstein, Oliver S. P. Davis

The paper maps genetic and environmental influences on autistic traits across Sweden and the UK using twin study data, revealing geographical variations in their aetiology.

JCPP Advances · Oct 1, 2021Peer-reviewedGenetics

Is genetic liability to ADHD and ASD causally linked to educational attainment?

Christina Dardani, Lucy Riglin, Beate Leppert, Eleanor C. M. Sanderson, Dheeraj Rai, Laura D Howe, George Davey Smith, Kate M. Tilling, Anita Thapar, Neil M Davies, Emma Louise Anderson, Evie Stergiakouli

This paper uses Mendelian randomization to investigate causal links between genetic liability to ADHD/ASD and educational attainment, finding distinct causal effects for ADHD and ASD.

International Journal of Epidemiology · May 9, 2021Peer-reviewedGenetics

Shared risk alleles with discordant polygenic effects: Disentangling the genetic overlap between ASD and ADHD

Ellen Verhoef, Jakob Grove, Chin Yang Shapland, Ditte Demontis, Stephen Burgess, Dheeraj Rai, Anders Dupont Børglum, Beaté St Pourcain

The paper shows shared genetic risk alleles between ASD and ADHD that have opposite effects on educational attainment, suggesting pleiotropic mechanisms.

bioRxiv · Sep 4, 2019 · PreprintGenetics