Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Transl Med. Jul 28, 2026; 12(2): 122602
Published online Jul 28, 2026. doi: 10.5528/wjtm.122602
Published online Jul 28, 2026. doi: 10.5528/wjtm.122602
Beyond assumptions: Revisiting the link between consanguinity and pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatric, University Hospital, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Bahrain
Author contributions: Al-Beltagi M wrote this editorial; Al-Beltagi M conceptualized and wrote the editorial. He reviewed and approved the final manuscript, agreeing to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
AI contribution statement: No AI writing tools (such as ChatGPT, DeepL, or similar platforms) were used in preparing our manuscript. The manuscript was written entirely by the authors. The only tool used was Grammarly, integrated into Microsoft Office, which was used solely for basic grammar correction and minor language polishing. It did not contribute to content generation, data analysis, or scientific writing.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares no financial, academic, institutional, personal, or commercial conflicts of interest related to the preparation and publication of this editorial.
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MD, PhD, Chairman, Consultant, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 1 Hassan Radwan Street, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: April 23, 2026
Revised: May 24, 2026
Accepted: June 11, 2026
Published online: July 28, 2026
Processing time: 97 Days and 15.4 Hours
Revised: May 24, 2026
Accepted: June 11, 2026
Published online: July 28, 2026
Processing time: 97 Days and 15.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This editorial interprets a recent cohort study reporting no clear association between consanguinity and neurodevelopmental disorders by highlighting the distinction between monogenic and multifactorial conditions and the impact of cohort heterogeneity on the detectability of risk. It emphasizes the importance of risk-stratified clinical approaches, including early developmental screening and culturally sensitive genetic counseling, and calls for prospective, genomically informed research to clarify disease-specific associations.