Infant Sibling Study | UC Davis MIND Institute

This study took place from 2003 to 2021. It was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

The goal of the study was to identify the earliest signs of autism.

Early autism diagnosis allows for support services as early as possible when the brain is most responsive.

We enrolled babies in our study who had an autistic sibling or siblings with no developmental challenges. Then we measured their skills several times throughout infancy and childhood.

About 20% of the babies with autistic siblings went on to develop autism themselves. Others had challenges like language delays or conditions that begin later in childhood such as learning disabilities, ADHD and anxiety.

About half of younger siblings of autistic children had no developmental challenges.