Abstract

The substantial phenotypic heterogeneity in autism limits our understanding of its genetic etiology. To address this gap, here we investigated genetic differences between autistic individuals (nmax = 12,893) based on core and associated features of autism, co-occurring developmental disabilities and sex. We conducted a comprehensive factor analysis of core autism features in autistic individuals and identified six factors. Common genetic variants were associated with the core factors, but de novo variants were not. We found that higher autism polygenic scores (PGS) were associated with lower likelihood of co-occurring developmental disabilities in autistic individuals. Furthermore, in autistic individuals without co-occurring intellectual disability (ID), autism PGS are overinherited by autistic females compared to males. Finally, we observed higher SNP heritability for autistic males and for autistic individuals without ID. Deeper phenotypic characterization will be critical in determining how the complex underlying genetics shape cognition, behavior and co-occurring conditions in autism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1293-1304
Number of pages12
JournalNature Genetics
Volume54
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2022

Funding

FundersFunder number
APHP
Autism Centre of Excellence
Bettencourt–Schueller
Cognacq–Jay Foundations
National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration East of England
St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge
Templeton World Charitable Fund
Université de Paris Cité
National Institute of Mental HealthU01MH109514
National Institute of Mental Health
Autism Speaks
Aarhus Universitet
Wellcome Trust214322
Wellcome Trust
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative
National Institute for Health and Care Research
University of Cambridge
LundbeckfondenR155-2014-1724, R248-2017-2003, R102-A9118
Lundbeckfonden
Institut Pasteur
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Novo Nordisk Fonden
Innovative Medicines InitiativeAIMS-2-TRIALS, 777394
Innovative Medicines Initiative

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