New Study Challenges Common Beliefs About Autism Origins

A comprehensive study from NYU Langone Health is dispelling long-held assumptions about the causes of autism.

Researchers have found no convincing evidence that maternal health conditions, such as infections or depression during pregnancy, directly cause autism in children. The findings shift the focus to genetics, environmental factors, and access to healthcare as more probable influences.

Autism, a developmental condition characterized by challenges in social interactions and repetitive behaviors, affects approximately 1 in 36 children in the US For years, studies have explored possible links between a mother’s health during pregnancy and her child’s risk of developing autism.

Lead researcher Magdalena Janecka, PhD, said her team’s findings provide clarity on these concerns.

“Many mothers of children with autism feel guilty, thinking they did something wrong during pregnancy, and it is heartbreaking,” Janecka shared. “We found no evidence that these maternal health conditions cause autism.”

The study analyzed over 1.1 million pregnancies using Denmark’s comprehensive national registry, which provides more consistent and detailed health records than typical US systems. Researchers reviewed 236 maternal health conditions, looking for patterns associated with autism diagnoses in children.

After accounting for confounding factors such as maternal age and family history, the only maternal condition still statistically linked to autism was pregnancy complications involving the fetus. However, researchers believe these complications may be early indicators of autism rather than causes.

“Our interpretation is that these fetal diagnoses likely do not cause autism but are instead early signs of it,” Janecka explained. “Developmental changes may be occurring prenatally, even before a diagnosis is possible.”

Janecka noted that over 350 genes have been identified as associated with autism and developmental delays, many of which arise spontaneously during reproduction, meaning parents often do not carry the mutations themselves.

Study co-author Dr. Vahe Khachadourian emphasized the significance of the findings.

“We believe this is the first study to comprehensively examine a mother’s entire medical history and explore a wide range of possible associations while controlling for multiple concurrent conditions and confounding factors,” he said.

The findings may help alleviate guilt among mothers who worry that their health during pregnancy may have contributed to their child’s diagnosis. Janecka recommends that couples concerned about autism risks consult with genetic counselors, especially if there is a family history of autism.

While groundbreaking, the study has limitations. Researchers did not analyze the impact of medications taken during pregnancy, and the study’s population was primarily Danish, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Looking ahead, the research team plans to use genetic data to better understand which maternal conditions may indicate an elevated genetic predisposition to autism.

Despite the ongoing research, autism diagnosis rates in the US continue to rise. Experts attribute this increase to enhanced screening practices, changes in diagnostic criteria, and heightened awareness among healthcare professionals and parents.

Janecka hopes the study will shift the narrative around maternal health and autism.

“This research helps emphasize that autism often has strong genetic roots. Understanding this can help parents focus on seeking the right resources and support rather than worrying about things they couldn’t control during pregnancy.”

With input from New York Post and SciTechDaily.