Babies are Born with Extreme Weight Increase Risk of Autism - Autism in children is often blamed due to improper diet, smoking or consumption of certain drugs performed during pregnancy. But a new study reveals if extreme birth weight may also be associated with an increased risk of autism in children.
After observing the data of 40,000 children in Sweden, researchers found infants with a birth weight greater than 9.9 pounds or less than 5.5 pounds are more likely to develop autism than normal birth weight infants.
Even researchers can ascertain specifically if the baby is born with a weight less than the average risk of autism by 63 percent and infant birth weight above average risk by 60 percent.
However, the link between birth weight with risk of autism is regardless of whether the baby is born prematurely or exceed the normal delivery date or not.
The new study just published in the American Journal of Psychiatry is believed to be the first successful study found a link between birth weight and risk of autism. The study also ensure previous findings stating that low birth weight babies are more likely to develop autism.
"We think that the increased risk is closely related to the abnormal growth of the extremes in the fetus as well as showing the existence of errors during the development of the fetus, especially with placental function her," said lead researcher Kathryn Abel, a professor of the Center for Women's Mental Health and the Institute of Brain, Behavior and Mental Health at the University of Manchester, UK.
"In fact, any factor that may encourage the development of abnormalities and fetal growth also tends to affect the brain development of the baby. Risk was also seen higher in babies who grow poorly and remain in utero until the pregnancy reaches 40 weeks of age. Could so this is because these babies are the longest exposure to unhealthy conditions in the womb, "he continued.
Although this study found a link between birth weight that is too high or too low with the risk of autism, but researchers emphasized the absence of a causal relationship between them.
"For the present we need to research more about the growth of the fetus, placenta how to control it and how they affect the baby's brain development. Keys only answer this research is on the condition of the mother and fetus healthy growth," concluded Abel as WebMD reported.
After observing the data of 40,000 children in Sweden, researchers found infants with a birth weight greater than 9.9 pounds or less than 5.5 pounds are more likely to develop autism than normal birth weight infants.
Even researchers can ascertain specifically if the baby is born with a weight less than the average risk of autism by 63 percent and infant birth weight above average risk by 60 percent.
However, the link between birth weight with risk of autism is regardless of whether the baby is born prematurely or exceed the normal delivery date or not.
The new study just published in the American Journal of Psychiatry is believed to be the first successful study found a link between birth weight and risk of autism. The study also ensure previous findings stating that low birth weight babies are more likely to develop autism.
"We think that the increased risk is closely related to the abnormal growth of the extremes in the fetus as well as showing the existence of errors during the development of the fetus, especially with placental function her," said lead researcher Kathryn Abel, a professor of the Center for Women's Mental Health and the Institute of Brain, Behavior and Mental Health at the University of Manchester, UK.
"In fact, any factor that may encourage the development of abnormalities and fetal growth also tends to affect the brain development of the baby. Risk was also seen higher in babies who grow poorly and remain in utero until the pregnancy reaches 40 weeks of age. Could so this is because these babies are the longest exposure to unhealthy conditions in the womb, "he continued.
Although this study found a link between birth weight that is too high or too low with the risk of autism, but researchers emphasized the absence of a causal relationship between them.
"For the present we need to research more about the growth of the fetus, placenta how to control it and how they affect the baby's brain development. Keys only answer this research is on the condition of the mother and fetus healthy growth," concluded Abel as WebMD reported.
