Minor physical anomalies in childhood autism. Part II. Their relationship to maternal age.

A group of autistic children have been found to have an excess of minor physical anomalies (MPA) and birth and pregnancy complications. However, there was not a significant positive correlation between the birth and pregnancy complications and the MPA. The relationship between MPA and maternal age in these autistic children was investigated. In the 45 autistic children studied, there was a significant positive correlation between MPA and maternal age at birth. The significance of the relationship between MPA and maternal age deserves further study.