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Inflammatory Conditions During Pregnancy and Risk of Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Lisa A Croen1,2, Jennifer L Ames1, Yinge Qian1

  • 1Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California.

Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science
|December 4, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Maternal asthma and obesity during pregnancy are linked to increased autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in children, particularly girls. These associations appear to stem from shared environmental factors, not genetics.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Maternal inflammation during pregnancy, stemming from immune or metabolic issues, may influence neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • The relationship between maternal inflammatory conditions and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disorders (DDs) requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal immune-mediated and cardiometabolic conditions during pregnancy and the risk of ASD and DDs in offspring.
  • To explore potential causal relationships using genetic data.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted using data from children born in California between 2011 and 2016.
  • Maternal conditions were extracted from electronic health records, and multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze associations.
  • Maternal genetic data were utilized for polygenic risk score analysis and Mendelian randomization.

Main Results:

  • Maternal asthma was associated with increased odds of ASD (OR=1.62) and DDs (OR=1.30).
  • Maternal obesity was linked to higher odds of ASD (OR=1.51).
  • The combination of maternal asthma and extreme obesity showed a significantly elevated risk for ASD (OR=16.9), particularly in female infants. Genetic analyses did not support a causal link.

Conclusions:

  • Inflammatory and cardiometabolic conditions during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
  • The observed associations are likely due to shared nongenetic risk factors rather than genetic predisposition.
  • Early screening and intervention may benefit children born to mothers with both asthma and obesity during pregnancy.
Abstract

Keywords:
ASDAsthmaCardiometabolicImmune dysregulationObesityPrenatal

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