Autism risk can be predicted at birth through the placenta, researchers say. Catching the developmental disorder early on can lead to better treatment.
Doctors typically have had to wait until a child is much older, around 3 to 4 years, to look for and diagnose autism. This new research looks at abnormalities in the placenta or afterbirth to predict who is and isn't at risk for autism.
Early intervention could be the key to managing the developmental disorder. Medical experts agree diagnosing a child before the age of 3 can greatly improve treatment.
"Regrettably, couples without known genetic susceptibility must rely on identification of early signs or indicators that may not overtly manifest until the child's second or third year of life," said senior author of the study Dr. Harvey Kliman, research scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine in a statement.
Autism affects about 1 in 50 school-aged children in the U.S. Even more staggering is that rates rose from an estimated one in 88 children only one year ago. The developmental disorder affects a wide range of functions, including speech, cognition, social and behavioral issues.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine, examined 117 placentas from infants of at-risk families, defined as those with one or more previous children with autism. One of the major risk factors of autism is family history.
The researchers found the at-risk placentas had as many as 15 trophoblast inclusions. In comparison, a control group had about two trophoblast inclusions. A trophoblast inclusion is an abnormal growth or fold in the placenta. By looking at the placenta at birth, researchers can start identifying children with autism and treat them almost immediately.
"I hope that diagnosing the risk of developing autism by examining the placenta at birth will become routine, and that the children who are shown to have increased numbers of trophoblast inclusions will have early interventions and an improved quality of life as a result of this test," Kliman added in the statement.
