Investigating the link between preterm birth and autism risk

Autism in Preterm Birth

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10779769

This study is looking at how being born early might affect the chances of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder, and it's for families with children born preterm in Sweden and Finland between 1996 and 2020, to help understand the different factors that could play a role in this.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-10779769 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research explores how being born preterm, before 37 weeks of gestation, may influence the risk of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It aims to understand the environmental factors associated with preterm birth and how they might differ from those affecting children born at full term. By creating a cohort of children born in Sweden and Finland from 1996 to 2020, the study will analyze various risk factors and their potential impact on ASD development. This could lead to new insights into the causes of ASD and help identify children at higher risk.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who were born preterm.

Not a fit: Patients who were born at full term (after 37 weeks of gestation) may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for autism in children born preterm.

How similar studies have performed: While the connection between preterm birth and autism has been suggested, this specific approach to studying the etiology of ASD in preterm children is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Autistic Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.