12/06/2025
Umbilical cord blood may hold the secret to autism risk.
In a surprising leap forward in autism research, scientists from the University of Fukui in Japan have discovered a biological clue that could lead to earlier diagnoses—and perhaps one day, prevention. The answer might lie in a baby’s umbilical cord blood.
The team focused on specific fatty acid molecules called dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids, or diHETrEs. These compounds are produced during pregnancy and were found at varying levels in the cord blood of newborns. Years later, researchers followed up on those same children—and noticed a strong correlation between diHETrE levels and autism-related behaviors.
Children with higher diHETrE levels tended to struggle with social skills, while those with lower levels displayed more repetitive behaviors. This suggests that these molecules may play a role in neurodevelopment, and might even help predict how a child’s brain will develop before any symptoms appear.
What makes this study especially important is that it uses preserved cord blood samples from real pregnancies, not just animal models. That means the link is rooted in actual human biology, not theoretical speculation.
If the results are validated through further studies, doctors could one day screen for autism risk using a simple blood test at birth. That could lead to early interventions and support—before any challenges even begin to show.
While we're still far from preventing autism entirely, this breakthrough brings us closer to understanding the biology behind it. And understanding, as always, is the first step toward hope.
