Potential Causes And Risk Factors Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Preterm Babies

A normal and full-term pregnancy lasts thirty-six to forty weeks. Babies born before twenty-six weeks are considered extremely preterm. Many of these babies don't survive, and it's common for the ones who do survive to have physical and mental challenges. One study indicated preterm babies might be at a higher risk of having autism spectrum disorder. When the researchers followed up on the development of extremely preterm babies, it was found nearly thirty percent of them had some form of autism spectrum disorder. Conversely, the diagnosis rate in the general population is about one percent, though it's possible the rate of autism in the general population is much higher and just undiagnosed. In the same vein, it's possible the preterm babies received diagnoses because of how closely they were being watched for developmental issues. That said, thirty percent is much higher than most estimates for the general population. The last trimester of pregnancy is critical for healthy neurological development. When a baby is born prematurely, their cerebral networks may become organized differently. The brains of preterm babies are exposed to stress when they are still supposed to be in the womb, which causes critical developmental issues.

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