Maternal Diabetes Linked to Increased Risk of ADHD in Children: Lancet

New Delhi: A major study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has reinforced the association between maternal diabetes and an elevated risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Conducted by researchers from Central South University, China, the study is a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of 202 individual studies, involving over 56 million mother-child pairs. It is one of the largest investigations to date examining the impact of maternal diabetes on child neurodevelopment.

The findings show that children exposed to maternal diabetes during pregnancy have a significantly increased risk of developing a range of neurodevelopmental conditions. These include autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, motor and learning disorders, communication impairments, and specific developmental delays. Additionally, maternal diabetes was linked to lower intelligence and psychomotor scores in affected children.

The study distinguished between two types of maternal diabetes: pre-gestational (existing before pregnancy) and gestational (developing during pregnancy). Both were associated with increased risks, but pre-gestational diabetes posed a greater threat to neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring.

Researchers highlighted the growing prevalence of maternal diabetes globally, with gestational diabetes affecting approximately 27.6% and pre-gestational diabetes affecting 2.4% of pregnancies. These trends have been driven largely by the increasing rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome, which includes conditions such as hypertension, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels.

Previous research has already established the adverse impacts of maternal diabetes, such as higher risks of cesarean delivery, macrosomia (large birth weight), and neonatal jaundice. However, this new study adds significant weight to the evidence that maternal diabetes may also interfere with fetal brain development, resulting in long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences.

The authors urge early preventive strategies for women at risk of diabetes, better prenatal care, and close developmental monitoring of children exposed to high maternal blood sugar levels during pregnancy. These measures could help mitigate the risks and improve long-term outcomes for affected families.