It has been a myth over the years that measles, mumps, and the Rubella vaccine were the causes of autism. However, extensive research conducted over time has demonstrated that vaccines do not cause autism. Rather scientific evidence suggests that environmental and genetic factors are more likely to make a child develop autism.
Recently, studies have discovered the influence of a healthy maternal diet during pregnancy on the improved neurodevelopment of children, simply put, a reduction in the risk of birthing an autistic child.
In a research published in JAMA Network Open, it was revealed that children whose mothers adhered strongly to a particular dietary consumption had a 22 percent decrease in the likelihood of being diagnosed with autism.
Led by Catherine Friel, PhD, alongside other researchers at the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, the study used data from two large studies—the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), with participants from Norway and Southwest England, respectively.
Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder, comprises a diverse group of conditions related to the development of the brain.
A 2022 global systematic review by Zeidan J and his team estimated that about 1 in 100 children worldwide has autism.
The World Health Organisation states that it is characterised by some degree of difficulty with social interaction and communication. Other characteristics are atypical patterns of activities and behaviours, such as difficulty with transition from one activity to another, a focus on details, and unusual reactions to sensations.
Autism may be detected in early childhood, but autism is often not diagnosed until much later.
People with autism often have co-occurring conditions, including epilepsy, depression, anxiety, and ADHD, which means difficulty paying attention and excessive restlessness, as well as challenging behaviours such as difficulty sleeping and self-injury.
While some people with autism can live independently, others have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support.
The research examined dietary data from over 96,000 pregnancies across both cohorts, making it one of the largest studies on this subject matter. The mothers’ adherence to a healthy dietary pattern which was characterised by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and whole grains—was assessed and As observed, the children demonstrated lesser difficulty in social communication at ages 3 and 8 in both cohorts.
“Prenatal diet appears to play a crucial role in the neurodevelopmental health of children. Our findings suggest that healthier maternal dietary patterns are associated with lower autism risk and better social communication outcomes,” said Friel, who is affiliated with the University of Glasgow.
While the study found no compelling evidence linking maternal diet to other autism-associated traits, such as repetitive behaviours, it underscored the importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy in influencing the neurodevelopmental status of children.
The research teams emphasised that these findings add to the understanding of autism aetiology. However, they noted that further studies are needed to establish causality and explore potential mechanisms, including genetic, environmental, and dietary interactions.
