Research reveals that babies with jaundice are at higher risk of developing autism

By Staff Writer

Newborns born with jaundice have a greater risk of developing autism, according to research from Aarhus University in Denmark, reports MSNBC.com

The study shows that babies who were diagnosed with jaundice, a liver problem that turns skin and eyes yellow, were 67 percent more likely to develop autism.

Researchers analyzed patient records of 733,826 children born over 10 years and found that approximately 5 percent developed a psychological disorder. Furthermore, those with the liver condition are between 56 and 88 percent more likely to develop a developmental disability.

Analysts say that even though liver problems indicate an elevated risk of autism, individuals with these issues are not guaranteed to develop the disorder. Family history and the existence of an older sibling with autism are common factors that could determine whether of not a baby could develop the condition, says researchers from the University of Washington Autism Center.

For individuals who suffer from autism or other developmental disorders, therapeutic boarding schools provide the care and education that traditional schools cannot offer.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention report that 4 million children are born in the U.S. every year, and an estimated 36,500 children will eventually be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.