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Maternal metabolic conditions and risk for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders

Paula Krakowiak1, Cheryl K Walker, Andrew A Bremer

  • 1Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA. pkrakowiak@ucdavis.edu

Pediatrics
|April 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic conditions during pregnancy, including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, are linked to increased risks of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delays (DD) in children.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Maternal health
  • Pediatric health

Background:

  • Metabolic conditions (MCs) during pregnancy, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, are increasingly prevalent.
  • The association between maternal MCs and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delays (DD), requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between maternal metabolic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, obesity) during pregnancy and the risk of ASD, DD, or specific developmental impairments in offspring.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based, case-control study (CHARGE study) enrolled 517 children with ASD, 172 with DD, and 315 controls aged 2-5 years.
  • Maternal MCs were ascertained via medical records or interviews. Offspring diagnoses were confirmed using standardized assessments.

Main Results:

  • Maternal MCs were more common in mothers of children with ASD and DD compared to controls.
  • Collectively, MCs were associated with a higher likelihood of ASD (OR: 1.61) and DD (OR: 2.35).
  • Offspring exposed to maternal MCs showed significantly lower scores on early learning and adaptive behavior scales.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal metabolic conditions during pregnancy may be broadly linked to neurodevelopmental problems in children.
  • The rising prevalence of obesity highlights these findings as a significant public health concern.
Abstract

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