What Is the Link Between Maternal Health and Autism in Children?

4th February 2025

1 minute read

What Is the Link Between Maternal Health and Autism in Children?

A study has revealed that the relationship between maternal health and autism in children may be due to factors other than the mother’s health conditions.

The research team conducted a comprehensive analysis of medical records from more than 1.1 million pregnancies in Denmark, where health records are standardized for each individual. This allowed them to accurately review medical diagnoses.

The findings, conducted by researchers at NYU Langone Health Center, indicate that most previously reported associations between maternal health conditions and autism can be explained by other factors, such as genetics and environmental exposure, rather than pregnancy-related issues themselves.

The researchers emphasized that genes play a key role in autism. They found that some genes linked to depression also increase the likelihood of autism.

The study did not focus solely on mothers, but also included fathers. Researchers discovered that many paternal diagnoses were linked to autism at the same rate as maternal diagnoses, suggesting that family-related factors play a crucial role in autism development.

After excluding genetic and familial influences, the researchers found that the only diagnosis still strongly associated with autism was fetal complications during pregnancy.

However, they believe that these complications do not cause autism but could instead be early indicators of the condition, supporting the theory that autism begins before birth.

Dr. Magdalena Janica, the study’s lead author, told Medical Xpress that these findings could help ease the guilt many mothers feel.

“Many women believe they made mistakes during pregnancy that led to their child’s autism.”

She added that a deeper understanding of these factors could contribute to the development of more effective support strategies for autistic children and their families.