11 August 2010

Brain scan could test for autism

According to an article from Reuters, a quick 15-minute brain scan could be used in the future to screen for autism. The brain scan, which picks up on structural changes in the brain, is more than 90 percent accurate in adults and could be ready to use in the next couple of years. The next step is to test the scan in children, and researchers seem optimistic that the success rate should be just as high for children as it is for adults. The scan is a standard MRI in which doctors look at the variations in the shape and structure of brain regions linked to language and social behavior.

To read the entire article, go to: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6795I420100810

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