Autism is a brain development disorder Of which, although much research is done, there are still many gaps to know. Precisely the question of the early detection of the disease is one of the 10 questions not yet answered about autism, and this study takes a step forward in its knowledge.
The news we gave about the possibility of detecting autism at very early ages seems to be confirmed. Although this report spoke of possible visible warning signs at 2 months, it did not go deeper into those signs. This new study determines the 9 months for early detection.
A team of scientists from McMaster University, in the Canadian province of Ontario, have achieved diagnose autism in children 9 months old Looking at the direction of babies' eye movement when they look at faces, eyes, or objects moving on a computer screen.
This achievement, if confirmed, is a great advance, since the disease was not diagnosable until the children had reached at least 2 years. Of course, it seems important that the treatments carried out with people suffering from autism, based on the development of skills, can already begin at such early ages.
Hopefully the results will be valid, confirmed and profiled so make the treatment more effective: The sooner autism is detected, the faster the child will advance.
And, although autism has no cure, according to Mel Rutherford, the professor of psychology who directs the research, this early detection also "could facilitate the situation of those affected, their families and future generations of children at risk of suffering it."
