PCOS linked to autism

PCOS linked to autism


From food dye to taking antidepressants during pregnancy, many substances have been linked to autism.

Now, a groundbreaking study is the latest to find an association between a mother’s condition and the brain development disorder that affects one out of every sixty-eight children. A Swedish study of twenty-four thousand autistic children and their mothers published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry found that mothers with polycystic ovarian syndrome were fifty-nine percent more likely to give birth to a child with autism.

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects five to fifteen percent of women of childbearing age. It can disrupt the menstrual cycle, create ovarian cysts and affect fertility. Women with PCOS have abnormally high levels of male sex hormones called androgens, which also influence brain and central nervous system development. The high level of androgens could have an adverse effect on developing fetuses. Still, the study only found an association between androgen levels and autism, not causation. Researchers say there’s no reason for expectant mothers to be alarmed right now, but say the association is worth a closer look.

As for other possible sources of the disorder, studies have found no link between vaccines and autism. Doctors urge parents to have their children vaccinated. While the exact cause of autism is still unknown, researchers believe it’s ninety percent genetic. But there are steps you can take to mitigate it: Get regular check-ups, eat a balanced diet, exercise and take vitamins when you are pregnant. Avoid drug use, especially anti-seizure medication, don’t drink alcohol, get treatment for celiac disease and get immunized against German measles, also known as rubella, before getting pregnant.

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