Study Dismantles Link Between Preterm Birth and Autism

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

A new cohort analysis of nearly 115,000 births debunks the theory that preterm birth alone leads to autism spectrum disorder.

Contrary to previous research and popular belief, premature birth alone does not lead to autism.

A new study out of Israel shows there is no significant link between premature birth and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reaffirming that the exact cause of autism is much more complex.

The study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, initially found a strong link between preterm birth and autism. However, after considering other factors, including ethnicity, maternal age, and the size and sex of the infant, the significant association vanished.

The findings were presented during The Pregnancy Meeting, an annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine on Feb. 14.

Researchers looked at records from hospitals and community clinics for almost 115,000 deliveries in Israel between 2005 and 2017. The data included mothers and infants who were Jewish, Muslim, and Bedouin, a Muslim minority group. Just over 93 percent of the births were delivered at term, defined as 37 weeks or more. Only 1.2 percent were preterm, while 6 percent were late- or moderately late-term.

Rather than preterm birth being linked to autism, the research team believes that multiple factors likely account for a child developing the developmental condition.

โ€œThe exact cause of autism is complex,โ€ Dr. Sapir Ellouk, lead author of the study, said in a press release. โ€œBut based on our data, a single obstetric factor is unlikely to be the cause of ASD. A more plausible theory involves the simultaneous presence of multiple factors.โ€

Research into the cause of autism, particularly research aimed at investigating the possible link between preterm birth and autism, has been controversial.

Some previous studies have suggested that preterm birth can increase the risk of a child developing autism substantially and that the risk is correlated with the gestation period. One study found that eight in 657 (1.22 percent) preterm babies born before 28 weeks developed autism, while 80 of 13,108 preterm babies (0.61 percent) born between 33 and 38 weeks did.

However, even previous research noted that differences in sex and other environmental factors could potentially play a role in a childโ€™s potential for developing the disorder.

Byย Amie Dahnke

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Is Trumpโ€™s Throw Down Going Down?

During a recent announcement at the White House, President Trump, and other participants appeared without ties and with there top shirt buttons undone.

Defying Mr. Softee

Revived after decades of decline, the Presidential Physical Fitness Test returns as a merit-based antidote to rising childhood obesity and chronic disease.

DOJ Releases Maxwell Proffer Transcript: CASE CLOSED?

DOJ releasedย transcript and audio recordingsย of Ghislaine Maxwellโ€™s proffer โ€” an image-laundering operation to get herself a pardon for sex-trafficking crimes.

Common Sense Economics and Finance: Value Established for the American Republic

A infection has mutated federal finance into a condition of political inflation, and valueless FED money is proof that the Federal Reserve is the root cause of that condition.

Pastor Corey Brooks is Walking Across America!

Last night I got to fulfill a bucket list item. I got to meet one of my personal heroes of our time (after Donald Trump) Pastor Corey Brooks.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Facing Deportation to Uganda After Rejecting Plea Offer, Attorneys Say

Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia allege U.S. authorities are threatening to deport him to Uganda after he declined offer to plead guilty to human smuggling charges.

โ€˜Godfather of AIโ€™ Warns Superintelligent Machines Could Replace Humanity

Geoffrey Hinton, the Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist who pioneered neural networks, says artificial intelligence is advancing too fast to control.

Trump Names 4 Judges to Fill Vacancies in North Carolina Courts

Trump announced 4 nominees to fill federal trial court vacancies in NC, tapping prosecutors, a magistrate judge, and a private practitioner for the stateโ€™s two district courts.

The Big Beautiful Bill Brings Big Changes for Taxpayers

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes tax breaks for an expansive range of taxpayers, while scrapping credits for energy-saving vehicles and home improvements.

Trumpโ€™s Tariffs Will Reduce Deficits by $4 Trillion Over Next Decade, Says CBO Report

A report released by the CBO predicted that President Donald Trumpโ€™s tariffs will reduce federal deficits by around $4 trillion over the next decade.

USDA Issues Memorandum Prioritizing American Energy on National Forest Lands

Secretary Rollins said that the United States will no longer allow foreign-made solar panels or inefficient energy projects to undermine national security.

US Pauses Visas for Commercial Truck Drivers, Citing Safety and Other Impacts

The Trump administration will immediately pause the issuance of all worker visas for commercial truck drivers, Sec of State Marco Rubio said.

Chip Stocks Fall on Reports White House Seeking Equity in Exchange for Grants

Share prices of semiconductor companies fell following reports the Trump admin is considering taking equity stakes in exchange for federal funding.
spot_img

Related Articles