By Alexandra Thompson Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 12:25 GMT, 19 February 2019 | Updated: 12:25 GMT, 19 February 2019
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Scientists hope to create a brain map that may allow them to diagnose autism in newborns.
A study found premature babies have an excessive number of nerve cells and other structures in their cerebral cortex - the region of the brain that regulates mental functioning.
An excessive number of neurons in the brain can affect communication between nerve cells, which has been associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Babies born full term are thought to 'prune' these neurons during their mothers' third trimester. This may explain why autism is more common in youngsters born too soon.
The researchers hope their study will allow them to one day scan a newborn's brain for signs it may later develop autism.
Scientists hope to create a brain map that allows them to diagnose autism in newborns (stock)
The research was carried out by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and led by Dr Hao Huang, a researcher in the department of radiology.
'We used cutting-edge methods to see microstructure throughout the brain during a critical period of maturation,' Dr Huang said.
'In addition to characterizing typical brain development, these measurements offer the potential to detect biomarkers of autism spectrum disorder at an age that could allow early diagnosis and possibly early intervention.'
Autism is a lifelong condition that affects how a person communicates and interacts with others.
It affects around one in every 100 people in the UK to some extent, NHS statistics show.
And in the US, one in every 59 children are diagnosed with some form of ASD, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Babies born before 37 weeks may be more likely
