Prenatal Risk for ASD: Fetal Cortisol Exposure Predicts Child Autism-Spectrum Disorder Symptoms.

ABSTRACT: The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is multifactorial and complex and likely involves interactions among genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. With respect to environmental influences, a growing literature implicates intrauterine experiences in the origin of this pervasive developmental disorder. In this prospective longitudinal design, we examine the hypothesis that fetal exposure to maternal cortisol may confer ASD risk. In addition, because ASD is four times more prevalent in males than females and because sexually dimorphic responses to intrauterine experiences are commonly observed, we examine whether or not any associations differ by fetal sex. Maternal plasma cortisol was measured at 15, 19, 25, 31, and 37 weeks' gestation in a sample of 84 pregnant women. ASD sy

SUBMITTER: Ram S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7983844 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature