Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo
Donate

No results yet

Search

Research

Genome-Wide Analyses of Vocabulary Size in Infancy and Toddlerhood: Associations With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Literacy, and Cognition-Related Traits

The number of words children produce (expressive vocabulary) and understand (receptive vocabulary) changes rapidly during early development, partially due to genetic factors. Here, we performed a meta-genome-wide association study of vocabulary acquisition and investigated polygenic overlap with literacy, cognition, developmental phenotypes, and neurodevelopmental conditions, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. 

Research

Psychometric properties of the Quality of Life Inventory-Disability (QI-Disability) measure

Initial evaluation suggests that QI-Disability is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life across the spectrum of intellectual disability

Research

A prospective study of fetal head growth, autistic traits and autism spectrum disorder

This large population-based study identified no consistent association across two cohorts between prenatal head growth and postnatal autistic traits

Research

Reduced heart rate variability in a treatment-seeking early psychosis sample

Findings provide preliminary evidence that early psychosis is associated with reduced heart rate variability

Research

Developmental vitamin D deficiency produces behavioral phenotypes of relevance to Autism in an animal model

Here we investigate these features in an animal model related to autism spectrum disorder - the DVD-deficient rat

Research

The impact of within and between role experiences on role balance outcomes for working Sandwich Generation Women

Women combining paid employment with dual caring responsibilities for children and aging parents, experience both benefits and costs

Research

Symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder is related to the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a retrospective case-control study

Investigating whether the presence and severity of nausea and vomiting may be related to symptom severity in offspring with autism spectrum disorder

Research

The use of psychotropic medications in autistic individuals (21 years and younger) in Western Australia: A preliminary investigation

Prescriptions and use of medications to treat mental health conditions in young autistic populations are inconsistent worldwide. This makes it hard to compare findings from international studies to the Australian autistic population, where there are limited relevant studies. Apart from risperidone, there are no other medications specified for direct use in autistic persons. This study aims to gain initial broad understanding of the use of medications, commonly prescribed for mental health conditions, specifically by autistics under the age of 21 years.

Research

Sex-Specific Effects of Birth Weight on Longitudinal Behavioral Outcomes: A Mendelian Randomization Approach Using Polygenic Scores

It is unclear whether sex differences in behavior arising from birth weight (BW) are genuine because of the cross-sectional nature and potential confounding in previous studies. We aimed to test whether sex differences associated with BW phenotype were reproducible using a Mendelian randomization approach, i.e., association between polygenic score (PGS) for BW and behavior outcomes across childhood and adolescence. 

Research

Co-design of the neurodevelopment assessment scale

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have high comorbidity rates and shared etiology. Nevertheless, NDD assessment is diagnosis-driven and focuses on symptom profiles of individual disorders, which hinders diagnosis and treatment. There is also no evidence-based, standardized transdiagnostic approach currently available to provide a full clinical picture of individuals with NDDs. The pressing need for transdiagnostic assessment led to the development of the Neurodevelopment Assessment Scale.