Autism is a neurological disorder that is part of the group of disorders called ASD (autism spectrum disorders) and affects the ability to communicate and interact with other people.
Regularly this disorder is diagnosed between two and three years of age, however a recent study shows us that With the help of magnetic resonance imaging tests, autism could be diagnosed from six months of age.
Recently Armando told us about a study in which they had discovered that it was possible to detect autism in babies by testing younger siblings of children diagnosed with ASD. In this study they found that children with siblings with ASD who ended up being diagnosed as well experienced hyperexpansion of the brain surface area between six and twelve months of age.
Now another study by researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine proves that from six months of age it could be diagnosed, by observing how certain brain regions are connected and synchronized.
For the study they analyzed the brain connections of 59 children with a high probability of suffering from autism, since they had at least one older brother who had been diagnosed with the disorder. Connections of the brain regions of the social behavior, language, motor development and repetitive behaviors, which are common characteristics in the diagnosis of ASD.
With the results obtained, an algorithm was created to calculate the probability that babies would be diagnosed with autism in the future. With the 96% were predicted if a six-month-old baby would suffer autism at two years of age.
These results are very important, because the sooner a child with autism is diagnosed, the earlier he can be treated with the necessary therapies to help him have a better relationship with other people.
