Groundbreaking Study Questions Connection Between Maternal Health in Pregnancy and Autism Risk

Recent research has shed new light on the link between a mother’s health during pregnancy and the risk of autism in her child. A study by NYU Langone Health found that many associations previously reported can be explained by factors like genetics, pollution exposure, and healthcare access.

The study analyzed over 1.1 million pregnancies in Denmark. Researchers looked into the medical histories of nearly 600,000 mothers and examined more than 1,700 different health conditions. Ultimately, they focused on 236 specific diagnoses that occurred in at least 0.1% of pregnancies.

“We believe our study is the first to comprehensively examine the entire medical history of the mother, exploring a wide range of possible associations,” said Vahe Khachadourian, MD, PhD, MPH.

The study was robust, utilizing Denmark’s centralized health data system, allowing for thorough tracking of maternal diagnoses against their children’s autism risk.

Researchers accounted for various factors that could distort the findings, including a mother’s age and her social background. They discovered that after adjusting for these factors, only 30 diagnoses remained statistically associated with autism. The team then compared families with siblings, helping to clarify whether these diagnoses were more than just coincidental.

Genetics played a strong role in the findings. For example, genes linked to depression can also increase the likelihood of autism in children. Thus, if a mother experiences depression during pregnancy and her child has autism, it’s likely due to shared genetic traits rather than a direct effect of the mother’s condition on the fetus.

The researchers also looked at fathers’ health records, finding similar associations between paternal diagnoses and autism. The direct impact of fathers on fetal development is limited, highlighting the role of shared familial factors.

After reviewing all factors, the only maternal health issue consistently linked to autism was complications during pregnancy that related to the fetus. However, researchers believe these complications are likely early indicators of autism rather than the cause.

“It appears that autism may develop before birth,” said Janecka. “These early signs can reduce the guilt many mothers feel, knowing that they are not to blame for autism in their children.”

Autism is a developmental disorder that usually shows up in early childhood. It can affect social skills and behavior, with symptoms ranging from limited eye contact to intense focus on certain activities. Government statistics estimate that about 1 in every 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism.

The study received funding from various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the Lundbeck Foundation.