Two Early-Life Findings Stood Out in Children Who Later Screened Positive for Autism Risk

Two early-life findings stood out in children who later screened positive for autism risk

Children born very preterm were more likely than term-born children to screen positive for autism risk at age 5 using the Social Communication Questionnaire. Among very preterm children, cerebellar abnormalities at term-equivalent age and moderate-to-severe histologic chorioamnionitis were independently associated with higher autism screening risk, alongside male sex and higher social risk.

Early Autism Risk Factors Identified in Five-Year Study of Very Preterm

A new cohort study is drawing attention to one of the most closely watched questions in child health: why some children born very preterm later show characteristics associated with autism, while others do not. Published in the Journal of Perinatology, the research by Stone-Heaberlin, Blackburn, Tamm and colleagues examines early autism risk factors in children […]