An article from The Scientist Magazine written by Sukanya Charuchandra, Maternal Obesity and Diabetes Linked to Autism in Children, discusses several studies that have found links between maternal obesity and children’s neurodevelopment. From 1994 to 2018 maternal obesity nationwide has gone up eighty-six percent. This condition can be associated with children being born obese and with other disabilities and disorders. Alongside maternal obesity, the number of children diagnosed with mental disorders and conditions has also increased. The article states, that several studies are showing that the metabolic health of moms is closely related to a greater risk of their child developing autism, ADHD and other mild neurodevelopmental disorders. Studies performed by Thomas Buchana from the University of Southern Carolina and Catharina Lavebratt from Karolinska Institute in Sweden have provided evidence that children born from Mothers with pre-gestational diabetes or obesity have a greater risk for developing autism, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental delay. The analyzed close to 650,00 births in Finland between 2004 and 2014 including mothers with obesity, pre-gestational diabetes and gestational diabetes. In addition, Ali Khashan from the University College Cork in Ireland conducted an analysis of sixty-one different studies that linked mothers with pregnancy- related disorders, including preeclampsia to children with a greater risk of developing ADHD or autism spectrum disorder. Another investigation, published in the International Journal of obesity, found a connection between maternal weight, preeclampsia and children with a neurodevelopmental delay.
Furthermore, Charuchandra then discusses different lab studies performed on animals that may provide answers to this issue. In rodents and other animals, it has been proven that the offspring of obese mothers that have been fed high-fat diets are born with behavioral and cognitive deficits. While it is still being researched, it is suspected that inflammation may be the reason. When pregnant, larger amounts of proinflammatory cytokines move throughout the body, as opposed to non-obese or non-pregnant woman. This has been linked to cognitive issues and Autism spectrum disorder in children. Andrea Edlow from Massachusetts General Hospital performed an experiment on mice that revealed how “males born to mice on high-fat diets ended up with greater neurodevelopmental deficiencies than the female counterparts”. There was a different number of microglia, the brain’s primary immune cells that get rid of excess neuronal connections, in fetal brains of males compared to females. A study conducted by Staci Bilbo, an expert in microglia in context of neuroinflammation and neurodevelopment, showed that rats born to mothers with a high fat diets also showed an increase of microglia in the brain and differences in anxiety and learning. Bilbo found that the microglia looked similar to those from an injured brain, that produce higher levels of cytokines; thus, leading to neuroinflammation altering neurodevelopment.
Cambridge 1
Another study, conducted by Elinor Sullivan from the University of Oregon, used pregnant macaques to determine that high-fat diets caused a disturbance in serotonin and dopamine signaling. Sullivan also reported that, “low levels of maternal macrophage…relate to behavioral outbursts, while perinatal obesity was linked to reactive anxiety in the offspring in response to fear or stress and ritualized anxiety, which bears resemblance to symptoms of ASD.” Thus, although inflammation is a factor of maternal obesity and its link to children’s neurodevelopmental health, there are still other factors that haven’t been discovered.
Another similar article published in Medpage Today, and written by Parker Brown, discusses a study with results similar to the Scientist Magazine article. Researchers, including co- author Katherine Bowers a physician at Cincinnati Children’s hospital, gathered medical records from around 40,00 patients in various hospitals throughout Ohio. When analyzed, the records showed mothers with gestational diabetes had an odds ratio of about two (95% Cl 1.14-2.11) for increased risk of autism spectrum disorders. The odds ratio increased (OR 2.53; 95% Cl 1.72- 3.75) when the mother had both diabetes and obesity. A likelihood of maternal gestational diabetes causing another developmental disorder was also discovered; however, the results were not statistically significant. Bowers stated that “our results contributed to the growing evidence of the relationship between maternal metabolic condition in pregnancy and having a child with autism spectrum disorder.” Gestational diabetes was highest among mothers with autistic children around ten percent compared with the control group only around seven percent. The researchers concluded that Autism spectrum disorder affects about sixty-eight children. As well, the article states that other studies, including the Nurses’ Health Study 11, have found a link between autism, the body mass index and metabolic disorders of mothers.
After discussing the results, Brown explains how this study was conducted. Once the data was received, it was split into three groups. Five hundred cases had children with confirmed autism, about fifteen hundred cases had children with other developmental diseases, and those cases without either. Along with a link between obesity and autism, they found that both mothers and fathers who had children with autism had a higher mean maternal age compared to those with children facing other developmental disorders. The study also found a small difference in racial distribution. A smaller proportion of African American mothers, about twenty-four percent had children with autism compared to the twenty-six percent children with a developmental disorder or the control group with about twenty-seven percent. As well, mothers who had children with autism and developmental disorders experienced more complication at birth compared to children with neither. About twenty three percent of autistic children, nineteen percent of children with developmental disorders, and only fourteen percent of the control group experienced complications at birth.
The article then states that because the study was confined to birth records in Ohio the results might not be universal, as well the analysis could have missed cases that took place outside of Ohio. It also states that other research found that the link between maternal diabetes, obesity and autism is only valid if the diabetes was diagnosed before the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy. However, the study did not have enough data to confirm or deny this question.
Cambridge 2
The results found in both articled are alarming; however, research only discovered a link between autism and obesity and diabetes not evidence that obesity causes autism. However, these results should still encourage all women hoping to become pregnant to grow conscious of their personal health. Obesity and diabetes are two increasingly popular diseases throughout the world. Both of these have devastating effects; however, they are both able to be self-cured by proper nutrition and exercise. In order to ensure the healthiest pregnancy possible, these results need to be shared with all expecting mothers. The media should promote healthier eating habits as well as exercising plans during pregnancy. Doctors and medical professionals should also encourage their patients to live healthier lifestyles, not only to improve their own health but the health of their children. Obesity and diabetes may only be a factor in the development of autism and other developmental disorders. However, by encouraging women to become healthy and active, the increasing rate of developmental disorders may decrease.
Another problem recognized in these articles is the increasing number of children facing autism and developmental disorders. There is not enough research going into why these numbers are increasing. Unfortunately, it is hard to uncover the truth with so many factors involved. Although disheartening, these articles give a small amount of hope to those working to find a cure for these diseases. However, more research should be going into developmental disorders in children. As well, the obesity epidemic within the articles is alarming. Not only is obesity causing diabetes and other issues in adults, it is also harming unborn children. Society needs to put an emphasis on living healthier lifestyles instead of promoting easy yet unhealthy lifestyles.
Although the cause is still unknown, these articles provide one explanation to autism and other developmental disorders. The articles show how significant science and research are, and how astounding new discoveries are. Not only are we able to diagnose disorders, but research is able to figure out what is causing them. Science and research are able to give hope, as research continues, there is confidence that one day there will be a cure to disorders such as autism.