New research out of Japan points to a potential link between umbilical cord blood and autism.
© Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK + © PETER PEREIRA/The Standard-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Japan) – Research out of Japan suggests there may be a link between autism and blood in the umbilical cord. The University of Fukui released the findings this week. Their studies say levels of a certain fatty acid — within umbilical cord blood — can have an impact on developing autism spectrum disorder, or ASD.
When the fatty acid is present in umbilical cord levels at a high enough level, it can lead to higher risk of ASD. Scientists say this is a potentially big deal in determining more about how autism develops. The findings may “pave the way” to better understand how autism develops in children. Also, it could help develop tests that may be able to predict the likelihood that a child will develop ASD.
