Key Points:
- Thyroid Imbalance in Pregnancy may double the risk of autism in children if hormone levels are uncontrolled.
- Well-managed thyroid conditions during pregnancy show no significant increase in ASD risk.
- Maternal underactive thyroid and sustained hormonal imbalance highlight need for monitoring and treatment.
Thyroid Imbalance in Pregnancy in women with existing thyroid disorders during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism in their children, according to new research published this week. The study, conducted by a team at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, analyzed data from more than 51,000 births to evaluate how maternal thyroid health and thyroid imbalance in pregnancy influences fetal brain development.
Researchers found that when chronic thyroid imbalance in pregnancy was well managed, the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring did not significantly increase. However, women who experienced uncontrolled thyroid imbalance in pregnancy across multiple trimesters faced more than twice the risk of having a child diagnosed with ASD.
Idan Menashe, who led the study, said in a statement that sustained thyroid imbalance in pregnancy posed the greatest concern. The findings were published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Key Findings From the Study
The research reviewed 4,409 pregnancies in which mothers had abnormal thyroid hormone levels before or during pregnancy. Thyroid imbalance in pregnancy that developed only during pregnancy did not appear to raise the likelihood of ASD. The heightened risk was associated specifically with women who had thyroid imbalance in pregnancy before conception and continued to experience low hormone levels throughout gestation.
Women with underactive thyroid glands showed the strongest link to increased ASD risk. When low hormone levels were present during all three trimesters, the odds of autism were more than tripled. Researchers did not separately analyze overactive thyroid conditions because too few cases were available.
According to the authors, maternal thyroid hormones play an essential role in early fetal brain development. Menashe said the results highlight the importance of routine monitoring and timely medication adjustments to manage thyroid imbalance in pregnancy and maintain normal hormone levels during pregnancy.
Risks Linked to Stopping GLP-1 Drugs
A separate study found that stopping GLP-1 weight-loss medications before pregnancy may raise the risk of complications. The findings contrast with current guidance advising women to discontinue the drugs before conception due to limited safety data for unborn babies.
Jacqueline Maya of Mass General Brigham for Children, who led the research, said the recommendations stem from the lack of pregnancy-specific data. The study examined 1,792 pregnancies in overweight or obese individuals and found that women who stopped GLP-1 drugs early had a higher risk of excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and preterm delivery compared to those who had never used the medications.
The outcomes did not differ for birth weight, birth length, or Cesarean delivery. The report, published in JAMA, noted that obesity itself increases pregnancy risks, including miscarriage and preeclampsia. Study co-author Camille Powe said more research is needed to understand how to balance the benefits of GLP-1 drugs before pregnancy with the risks of thyroid imbalance in pregnancy.
A related JAMA study showed a sharp rise in GLP-1 prescriptions after childbirth. Among more than 382,000 pregnancies in Denmark, postpartum GLP-1 use increased from fewer than 5 per 10,000 women in 2018 to 173 per 10,000 in the second quarter of 2024.
mRNA Shows Early Promise for Snakebite Treatment
Early laboratory evidence suggests mRNA technology, first used in COVID-19 vaccines, may help prevent muscle damage caused by snakebites. Researchers encased mRNA molecules in fat particles that prompted muscle cells to produce antibodies against venom from a pit viper species found in Central and South America.
In human muscle cell models, these protective antibodies appeared within 12 to 24 hours of injection. In mouse experiments, a single mRNA dose given 48 hours before venom exposure preserved healthy muscle tissue.
The team, whose findings appeared in Trends in Biotechnology, said the treatment must still be adapted for use after a bite occurs. They noted that mRNA-based antibodies could complement existing antivenoms by protecting muscle tissue that current treatments struggle to reach.
