Autistic Children Have Larger Brains

Autistic children proved to have a brain size slightly larger than children who do not have the conditions of these disorders.

New research, published the journal Archives of General Psychiatry May edition mentions, the difference between these two measures appear to be related with the average increase in brain growth before the child was 2 years old.

The experts from the University of North Carolina, United States, who began the research, stressed though from the size continues to increase, but the progression is not so.

In 2005, the experts examined a group of children aged 2 years, and found that a child with autism has a brain the size of 5% to 10% greater than children who do not have the disorder.

Experts have recently also examined the same group of children after they hit the age of 5 years. The psychiatry brain scan repeated in 38 children with autism and 21 non-autistic children. The results showed that autistic children still have a brain size slightly larger, but but the size of growth similar to those of children without autism.

According to lead researcher Joseph Piven, MD, the findings could provide a better understanding of the genes that trigger autism, which in turn will pave the way for the discovery of how early identification and appropriate treatment for this disorder condition.