B4046 - Investigating the association between birthweight and intellectual disability - 22/04/2022

B number: 
B4046
Principal applicant name: 
Paul Madley-Dowd | University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Dheeraj Rai, Rhys Higginson
Title of project: 
Investigating the association between birthweight and intellectual disability
Proposal summary: 

Cognitive delay has previously been found to be associated with low birthweight. Little research has been conducted to explore the specific association between low birthweight and intellectual disability (defined as having an arrested or incomplete development of the mind alongside functional impairment in facets that contribute to overall intelligence such as cognition, language and social ability), particularly among populations that were born at an appropriate gestational age. The current project will explore the observational association in ALSPAC before going on to investigate potential moderating factors (factors that influence the strength of the effect). We will then investigate whether the association is likely to reflect a causal effect by using techniques such as Mendelian Randomization.

Impact of research: 
The research will be used as part of a Master's dissertation for the MSc in Epidemiology. Any associations identified will contribute towards the literature on the etiology of intellectual disability which, so far, has been under researched.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 19 April, 2022
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 21 April, 2022
Keywords: 
Genetic epidemiology (including association studies and mendelian randomisation), Learning difficulty, Statistical methods, Development