Demographic, genetic, neuroimaging, and behavioral correlates of short social responsiveness scale in a large pediatric cohort.

Researchers studied autism screening scores in nearly 10,000 children using the Social Responsiveness Scale. They found that higher scores were more common in boys, strongly influenced by genetics, and linked to lower intelligence, behavioral problems, and sleep issues. Brain scans showed some similarities but also differences compared to children with diagnosed autism. This suggests caution when using screening tools alone to understand autism traits.

This large-scale study examined the Short Social Responsiveness Scale (SSRS) in 9,970 children aged 9-11 years, including 9,788 non-autistic and 182 autistic children from the ABCD Study. The research investigated demographic, genetic, neuroimaging, and behavioral correlates of SSRS scores. Key findings included a male predominance in higher SSRS scores, high heritability (0.52), correlation with autism polygenic risk scores, and associations with lower fluid intelligence, behavioral problems, sleep issues, and psychotic-like symptoms. Neuroimaging revealed both overlapping and distinct patterns compared to clinical autism, with sex-specific variations in brain connectivity.

The study highlights important similarities and differences between SSRS-measured traits and clinically diagnosed autism.

SSRS is a valuable screening tool but should not be interpreted as equivalent to clinical autism diagnosis. The identified correlates (sleep problems, behavioral issues, cognitive differences) may inform comprehensive assessment approaches. Genetic findings support dimensional models of autism traits in the broader population.

Single time-point assessment limits understanding of trait stability. The study emphasizes caution in interpreting SSRS findings as equivalent to clinical autism diagnosis. Neuroimaging findings require replication. The relationship between screening scores and diagnostic criteria needs further clarification.

The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) is an established tool for screening autism. An increasing number of studies have utilized the SRS in the general population as an outcome measure to gain insight into the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, SRS scores have not been well characterized in large pediatric cohorts, particularly in relation to their demographic, genetic, neuroimaging, and comorbidity profiles, or how these patterns compare to those observed in clinically diagnosed ASD. This study included 9788 non-ASD children and 182 autistic children aged 9-11 years from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.

Generalized linear mixed-effect models were applied to evaluate the associations of short social responsiveness scale (SSRS) with a spectrum of demographic, genetic, neuroimaging, and behavioral characteristics. We estimated the heritability of SSRS using a subsample of twin and sibling data. Our finding revealed that children with higher SSRS exhibited a higher male-to-female ratio. SSRS had a high heritability of 0.52 (95% CI, 0.45-0.63), and higher SSRS scores were correlated with increased polygenic risk for ASD (P < 0.001).

Neuroimaging analyses identified both overlapping and unique neurobiological underpinnings, with sex-specific variations in structural and functional connectivity similar to those observed in ASD. Higher SSRS scores were linked to lower fluid intelligence, more behavioral problems, more sleep problems, and more psychotic-like symptoms. These findings highlight both the overlap and distinction between patterns reflected in SSRS scores and those observed in clinical ASD, highlighting the need for caution when interpreting findings only utilizing SRS as the outcome for autistic-like trait.