Consanguinity: The innocent culprit in autism severity

Abstract

Objective: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with genetic and environmental factors. Although consanguinity is a common practice in the Middle Eastern population, the association between consanguinity and ASD severity is not clear. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the records of 139 children (1.5-14 years) diagnosed with ASD from June 2011 to May 2024. The study analyzed the correlation between consanguinity, homozygosity, and ASD severity. Results: Of 139 cases, 74.1% were male, with an average age of diagnosis of 4.5 years (SD+- 2). Most ASD cases were at severity levels 2 (63.3%) and 3 (35.3%). Consanguinity was reported in 59% of cases, with a mean homozygosity rate of 4.6%. No significant correlation was found between consanguinity or homozygosity rates and ASD severity. Conclusion: No significant association was found between consanguinity or homozygosity rates and ASD severity. Further research is needed to explore the genetic mechanisms of ASD in consanguineous populations.