There is new light being shed on Autism.
Scientists are now linking stress during pregnancy to the disorder.
Dr. Kevin Soden has more.
We've known for years that what a woman eats and drinks during pregnancy can affect her unborn baby.
But there is new evidence now that suggests how she feels during pregnancy... can impact the baby, too.
Researchers at the Ohio State University Medical Center say there may be evidence that women who have very stressful pregnancies may be more likely to have babies with autism.
Researchers looked at nearly 500 cases and found that women who had very traumatic experiences during pregnancy were more likely to have children with autism.
DR. DAVID BEVERSDORF, OHIO STATE MEDICAL CENTER: "THEY ARE THINGS LIKE DEATH OF A SPOUSE, MAJOR ILLNESS OF A FAMILY MEMBER, LOSING A JOB, VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT."
But it wasn't just what happened during the woman's pregnancy.... when it happened was significant, too.
Researchers found the women who have autistic children often had major stress about 26 weeks into the pregnancy.
That's at a time when the baby's brain is in a crucial stage of development.
They say more studies are needed to understand the possible link between stress and autism. They now plan to test the blood and hormones of pregnant women to determine exactly what chemical reactions take place when women are exposed to severe stress.
Researchers say Autism can be linked to your family genes, but there are some things genetics can't explain like an unusual number of children with autism are born in March.
For more information, call 1-800-293-5123 or go to Press Release From osumedcenter.edu.
Dec. 11, 2001
