Health & Medicine

Watch Out For the Early Signs of Autism: They Could Be Reversed

Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Sep 09, 2014 04:48 PM EDT

Detecting early signs of autism may help to reverse issues of the problem, according to recent findings.

Researchers at the University of California Davis' MIND Institute have found that providing therapy for babies ages 6-9 months old who have exhibited related health symptoms to the health issue may help to reverse or even stop signs of the health issue; this includes children who lack the ability to make eye contact, babble or other marked habits. 

Findings revealed that certain precautionary measures prevented autism issues in babies by their third birthday. Furthermore, many had completely lost symptoms of the behavioral health issue by their five and sixth birthdays.

"It doesn't prove that these children recovered from autism," said study co-author Sally Rogers, a professor and developmental psychologist at UC Davis, via USA Today. However, she added that "it's a promise of a potential treatment for young children who have these symptoms."

Though more research is necessary in order to determine just whether or not the symptoms can be stopped or slowed, particularly based on various genetic components, researchers are actively working to alter the issue.

Statistics show that one in 68 children will be identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to findings from the CDCs Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone

More on SCIENCEwr