Maternal immune activation: A critical prenatal risk factor for autism spectrum disorder
Bo Yuan1, Aihua Yuan2, Minjia Lu3
1Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Med (New York, N.Y.)
|April 12, 2026
Abstract:
Maternal immune activation (MIA) is an important prenatal risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This commentary summarizes epidemiological and experimental evidence linking MIA to altered fetal neurodevelopment, highlighting placental mechanisms, long-term immune programming, sex-related risk and resilience, and potential strategies to monitor and manage pregnancies with significant maternal inflammation.
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