MRI Scans Diagnose Autism with Near Perfect Accuracy in New Study
Autism disorders affect one in 110 children in the U.S.--or perhaps more--but the method of diagnosing the condition, which is characterized by difficulties socializing and communicating, among other behavioral and emotional problems, is largely subjective. Now, researchers may have finally found a way to objectively and scientifically diagnose the condition early, with 94 percent accuracy, using simple MRI brain scans. Autism is generally diagnosed during childhood, but it is often difficult to detect early, particularly among those suffering form a high-functioning form of the condition; those symptoms may be less overt. With a more scientific, biological means of testing children early, it may be possible to get them the proper therapy early when it can do them the most good. Related ArticlesAre Environmental Factors to Blame for Autism?Cracking the Autism PuzzleLancet Retracts Controversial 1998 Study Linking Autism and VaccinesTagsScience, Clay Dillow, autism, diagnostic medicine, health, magnetic resonance imaging, medicine, MRIThe researchers at...