Researchers Find Link between Premature Births and Autism
(Ottawa) Premature babies are already at risk of serious health problems, now it appears they are at risk of developing autism also.
This news comes following a study by United States researchers who tracked babies born in the US, 3 months prematurely.
Using a standard autism screening tool, researchers writing in the Journal of Pediatrics, noted that babies born 3 months prematurely were up to 3 times more likely to develop autistic symptoms before the age of 2 than regularly born children.
Researchers say that although premature babies were more likely to develop the condition, it might not be because of them being born earlier than normal.
They believe that whatever the cause is that leads to autism, may in a way be linked with an increased risk of premature birth.