Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurological and developmental disorder that impacts behavior, social interaction, speech, nonverbal communication, self-regulation, and relationships. Symptoms of ASD appear within the first three years of life. Early diagnosis and intervention of ASD may make a significant difference later in life. A new study published in BMJ Health & Care Informatics demonstrates how artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning and real-world health claims data can predict autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children under 30 months. "Our prediction model for ASD diagnosis could lead to a significant impact on the screening strategies for ASD in young children," wrote the study authors affiliated with The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and The Pennsylvania State University.

Brain scans, analyzed using a type of artificial intelligence, can reveal whether 6-month-old babies are likely to develop autism, a new study shows. The study examined 59 infants who were at high risk of developing autism; that is, each had an older sibling with autism. The artificial intelligence predicted with 100 percent accuracy that 48 infants would not develop autism. In addition, of the 11 infants who did develop the disorder by the time they were 2 years old, the system correctly predicted nine of the cases. "It was extremely accurate," Robert Emerson, the lead author on the study and a former cognitive neuroscience postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina (UNC), told Live Science.