Sleep, Brain Development, and Behavioral Correlates in a Longitudinal Cohort of Children at Risk for ASD

2024

The overarching goal of this proposal is to examine relationships between sleep problems, brain structure, and behavioral functioning in a unique, well-characterized, sample of school-age children at high (HR) and low (LR) familial risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), followed longitudinally since infancy with multiple brain and behavior assessments. This opportunity leverages a recently funded 5-year follow-up study (NIH IBIS Network) of these children who are returning for assessment at 7-10 years of age: ~100 with ASD (HR-ASD); ~200 without ASD, who range from typical development to developmental and psychiatric disorders known to occur at high rates in siblings of children with ASD (HR-nonASD); and ~100 LR children. Sleep problems during school-age have the potential to disrupt multiple domains of function and learning in typically developing children. These effects are likely even more consequential in children with ASD, where sleep problems are more common. Elucidating the developmental basis, neural correlates, and co-morbid cognitive and behavioral problems associated with sleep problems in school-age children with ASD has important implications for developing novel, developmentally-sensitive, targeted interventions for sleep problems as well as having an impact on problems exacerbated by sleep disturbances in this vulnerable population.

Performing Research or Evaluation

Health-Related Activities

Not Applicable

None

National

N/A