Jaundice in newborns may be linked to autism

London, Oct 13 (ANI): Newborn babies diagnosed with jaundice may be at higher risk of developing autism later on, according to a new study.

As part of the research, Rikke Damkjaer Maimburg of Aarhus University in Denmark and colleagues studied all Danish births between 1994 and 2004.

They found that 2.37 per cent of full-term babies treated for jaundice developed autism compared to 1.4 per cent of babies without jaundice.

However, it isn't clear whether jaundice is a cause or consequence of an increased risk of autism, reports New Scientist.

While the study did not look for a mechanism, the team suggests that bilirubin, the toxin that accumulates in jaundice, may damage brain tissue and disrupt brain development, leading to autism.

The study appears in the Journal Pediatrics. (ANI)