Autism develops over time during infancy rather than appearing suddenly in small children, a study led by UNC researchers suggests.
Researchers found differences in brain development in high-risk infants who later developed autism compared to high-risk infants who did not develop autism, starting at age 6 months.
The findings hint at the possibility that targeted intervention could halt autism’s development.
Dr. Joseph Piven of the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities is senior author of the study. It was published Feb. 17 on the American Journal of Psychiatry’s website.