Study strengthens evidence linking autism to maternal obesity-diabetes

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/cchm-sse020116.php

Public Release: 1-Feb-2016
Study strengthens evidence linking autism to maternal obesity-diabetes
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Scientists show they can use electronic medical records and birth information to verify and strengthen an already suspected link between autistic children and pregnant mothers with obesity and diabetes.

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According to study data, pregnant mothers with obesity or gestational diabetes were 1.5 times more likely to have a child with ASD compared to mothers of children without developmental disorders. The increased risk of ASD for pregnant mothers with both obesity and gestational diabetes was two-fold. The findings fit well into an increasing body of evidence that obesity and gestational diabetes may be associated with the development of autism.

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