Can Autism Be Diagnosed in Infancy?

In infants with an autistic sibling, having faster growth in brain surface area from ages 6 to 12 months strongly predicted autism at age 24 months.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have both enlarged head circumference and more neurons than neurotypical children (NEJM JW Psychiatry Jan 2012 and JAMA 2011; 306:2001). To determine whether brain differences occur in infancy, researchers examined brain volume and cortical surface area (CSA) in 106 infants at high ASD risk (because they had an autistic sibling) and 42 neurotypical controls.

All underwent behavioral assessments and magnetic resonance imaging at ages 6, 12, and 24 months. Fifteen high-risk infants developed ASD by 24 months. These children had a faster rate of expansion of CSA between ages 6 and 12 months, compared with controls and the 91 high-risk children without ASD. Expansion occurred in regions related to sen…

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Can Autism Be Diagnosed in Infancy?

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Reviewing Author