Maternal Diabetes Linked to Increased Autism, ADHD Risks: Study
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Synopsis
A recent study published in The Lancet highlights a robust connection between maternal diabetes and the elevated risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and ADHD, based on a comprehensive analysis of over 56 million pregnancies.
Key Takeaways
- Maternal diabetes increases neurodevelopmental disorder risks.
- Over 56 million pregnancies studied.
- Pre-gestational diabetes poses a higher risk than gestational diabetes.
- Proactive intervention is essential for at-risk women.
- Continuous monitoring of exposed children is crucial.
New Delhi, April 8 (NationPress) A significant study encompassing 56.1 million pregnancies, released in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology on Tuesday, has strengthened the association between maternal diabetes and the heightened risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Researchers from Central South University in China performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 202 studies, involving 56,082,462 mother-child pairs.
The findings indicated that maternal diabetes was linked with increased risks of various neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as diminished intelligence and psychomotor scores.
Children exposed to maternal diabetes exhibited a heightened risk for any neurodevelopmental disorder, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual disability, specific developmental disorders, communication disorders, motor disorders, and learning disorders, when compared to children not exposed.
"Maternal diabetes is linked to a greater risk of neurodevelopmental disorders and reduced neurodevelopmental performance in children,” stated the researchers.
This condition, which encompasses both pre-gestational diabetes (also known as preexisting diabetes) and gestational diabetes—characterized by elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy—has become increasingly common, impacting millions of pregnancies globally.
The global incidences of pre-gestational and gestational diabetes have steadily risen over the past four decades, with pre-gestational diabetes affecting roughly 2.4 percent and gestational diabetes impacting 27.6 percent of pregnancies around the world.
Obesity and metabolic syndrome—a collection of conditions including hypertension, diabetes, excessive abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels—are recognized as significant contributors.
Additionally, beyond adverse outcomes such as caesarean sections, macrosomia (excessive birth weight), and neonatal jaundice affecting both mothers and infants, earlier research has indicated that maternal diabetes may influence fetal brain development.
Significantly, pre-gestational diabetes showed a stronger correlation with the risk of most neurodevelopmental disorders in children than gestational diabetes.
The findings further underscore “the necessity for proactive measures for women at risk of developing diabetes and ongoing monitoring of children with a history of in-utero exposure to maternal diabetes,” the researchers concluded.
