Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of common brain disorders which develop in early childhood. It is estimated that 1% of the population in developed countries is effected by ASD, leading to a significant emotional, familial and financial burden on society. These disorders are characterised by varying degrees of difficulty in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication as well as repetitive behaviours. Whilst many causes of ASD have been proposed, most cases appear to be cause by a combination of autism risk genes and environmental risk factors influencing early brain development. Whilst some environmental risk factors have been identified, many others are currently being investigated with the hope that by identifying these factors future incidence of ASD may be reduced. One potential risk factor currently being investigated is maternal alcohol consumption (MAC).
This study aims to examine whether MAC is associated with childhood ASD in a British cohort. Using data extracted from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) (a nationally representative sample of 18,827 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002), the association between MAC and childhood ASD will be assessed.
