Tejal Somvanshi
A major new study has found that gestational diabetes during pregnancy may significantly increase the risk of children developing autism and ADHD, while also affecting mothers’ cognitive function.
The research, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) conference in Vienna this week, analyzed data from 48 studies involving over 9 million pregnancies across 20 countries.
Children exposed to gestational diabetes in the womb face a 36% higher risk of developing ADHD and a 56% increased risk of autism, according to the findings. They also have a 45% higher chance of experiencing developmental delays compared to children whose mothers didn’t have the condition.
“There are increasing concerns about the neurotoxic effects of gestational diabetes on the developing brain,” said lead senior author Dr. Ling-Jun Li from the National University of Singapore School of Medicine. “Our findings underscore the urgency of addressing this significant public health concern.”
The study also revealed impacts on maternal health, with mothers who had gestational diabetes scoring on average 2.47 points lower on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment during pregnancy compared to those without the condition.
Children born to mothers with gestational diabetes scored approximately 3.92 points lower on IQ tests and showed a 3.18-point reduction in verbal crystallized intelligence, which affects language comprehension and communication skills.
Gestational diabetes affects about 14% of pregnancies worldwide and is becoming more common. In countries like Singapore and Australia, it affects roughly one in five pregnancies, significantly above the global average.
While standard testing for gestational diabetes typically occurs between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, researchers highlighted the potential benefits of earlier detection.
“It’d be great to be able to prevent gestational diabetes, otherwise, we certainly want to try to diagnose it and find it as early as possible,” said Professor David Simmons, chief medical officer of Diabetes Australia.
Some experts suggest detection could occur as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy, and researchers at the National University of Singapore mentioned the potential of a non-fasting first-trimester blood test for earlier detection.
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Experts caution that while the study shows strong associations, it doesn’t prove that gestational diabetes directly causes these neurodevelopmental conditions. “It’s an association,” Professor Simmons emphasized. “That doesn’t mean that it’s causal. It just means that there is this increased likelihood.”
Scientists haven’t yet determined exactly how gestational diabetes might affect brain development, but they suggest several possible factors, including inflammation, cellular stress, reduced oxygen supply, and high insulin levels during pregnancy.
Interestingly, the meta-analysis didn’t find significant differences in major brain structures or global cognitive scores at the population level, suggesting the effects may be more nuanced than previously thought.
Researchers stress that more work is needed to better understand these connections. “Longer follow-ups across childhood are also needed to examine whether these associations persist or progress further to other worse outcomes,” said presenting author Caitlin Por from Monash University.
For now, health experts recommend that pregnant women focus on measures to reduce their risk of developing gestational diabetes, including maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise before and during pregnancy.
“We just need to be mindful or checking our children if we are concerned something is wrong,” said Jane Robinson from Diabetes Victoria. “But there is no need for alarm.
“The findings are part of an ongoing systematic review and meta-analysis, with full peer-reviewed publication expected to follow the conference presentation.
