Study Dismantles Link Between Preterm Birth and Autism

Contrary to previous research and popular belief, premature birth alone does not lead to autism. A new study out of Israel shows there is no significant link between premature birth and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reaffirming that the exact cause of autism is much more complex. The study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, initially found a strong link between preterm birth and autism. However, after considering other factors, including ethnicity, maternal age, and the size and sex of the infant, the significant association vanished. The findings were presented during The Pregnancy Meeting, an annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine on Feb. 14....