A recent study has identified distinct patterns in brain connections in six-week-old infants who have a high likelihood of developing autism. Researchers found that these differences in brain networks emerge much earlier than autism-related behaviors, which typically become noticeable later in childhood.

The study focused on the brain’s salience network, a critical group of regions involved in identifying important environmental information and enabling appropriate responses. In infants at high risk for autism—a disorder characterized by repetitive behavior and impaired social interaction—the researchers observed stronger connections between the salience network and brain regions responsible for processing sensory information and movement, known as the sensorimotor regions.

These findings suggest that the brain network differences associated with autism are present from a very early age, potentially offering new avenues for early diagnosis and intervention. By understanding these early neural patterns, healthcare professionals may be able to develop more effective strategies to support infants at risk for autism, improving outcomes as they grow.