Fish But Not Supplements Consumed in Pregnancy Associated With Lower Rates of Autism Diagnosis And Related Traits, ECHO Cohort Study Finds

Authors: Emily Oken, Kristen Lyall, et al.

Who sponsored this study?

The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health supported this research.

Why was this study needed?

Fish consumption during pregnancy provides an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, an essential nutrient for supporting child health and neurodevelopment. However, in the U.S., people who are pregnant or can become pregnant are not eating enough fish or get enough omega-3 fatty acids through diet or supplements. Few studies have explored prenatal fish consumption and supplement use in association with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis or autism-related traits. This study aims to investigate the relationship between fish consumption or omega-3 supplement use and an ASD diagnosis or the presence of autism-related traits.

What were the study results?

Fish consumption during pregnancy was associated with a 20% lower likelihood of ASD diagnosis and fewer autism-related traits in offspring. The associations were somewhat stronger for female offspring. Taking fish oil supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy was not associated with an ASD diagnosis or autism-related traits. However, supplement use was associated with a slight increase in scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a widely used survey completed by parents or caregivers to report on their child’s possible autism-related traits.

What was the study's impact?

These findings are consistent with current dietary guidelines that support fish intake during pregnancy and support continued public health efforts to encourage fish intake.

Who was involved?

The participants were children born between 1999 and 2019 and their parents at three of the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort research sites. The sites selected from samples considered a higher likelihood for autism, either due to family history or preterm birth.

What happened during the study?

The researchers studied the relationship between maternal fish intake and omega-3/fish oil supplement use during pregnancy and the occurrence of clinician-diagnosed autism and parent-reported autism-related traits. These traits were measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a widely used survey completed by parents or caregivers. Fish consumption and supplement use were assessed based on self-reported dietary information from participants.

Note: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

What happens next?

Future research could examine how chemical contaminants found in some fish could potentially influence child health and development. Additional studies could look at the relationship between self-reported data on fish consumption and supplement use during pregnancy, biological markers of fish consumption, and child health outcomes. Combining biological data and self-reported data could provide a more complete picture of the overall benefits of fish consumption during pregnancy.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article titled “Association of Maternal Fish Consumption and Omega-3 Supplement Use During Pregnancy with Child Autism-Related Outcomes: Results from a Cohort Consortium Analysis” in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published September 2024

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Fish But Not Supplements Consumed in Pregnancy Associated With Lower Rates of Autism Diagnosis And Related Traits, ECHO Cohort Study Finds

Eating Fish But Not Omega-3 Supplements During Pregnancy Associated With Lower Likelihood Of Autism Diagnosis, NIH-Funded Study Finds

Posted on September 3, 2024August 27, 2025 by Jodi Snare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eating any amount of fish during pregnancy was associated with about a 20% lower likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, particularly in females, and a slight reduction in autism-related traits in offspring, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.

However, researchers did not find the same association with supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, an essential nutrient during pregnancy for supporting maternal health and child neurodevelopment. A recent analysis of ECHO Cohort data revealed that about 25% of the pregnant participants reported never eating fish or consuming it less than once a month during their pregnancy. Even fewer participants reported taking omega-3 fish oil supplements.

ECHO Cohort researchers wanted to see whether low fish consumption and omega-3 supplement use during pregnancy might be associated with the occurrence of an autism diagnosis or parent-reported autism-related traits.

“Our study contributes to a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the role that prenatal diet can play in autism-related outcomes in offspring,” said ECHO Cohort researcher Emily Oken, MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Oken said the findings underscored the need for better public health messaging about guidelines for fish consumption for pregnant women, considering the low fish intake in the U.S. and the rising diagnoses of autism.

What happened during the study?

Researchers analyzed data from about 4,000 participants, examining the relationships among fish intake, supplement use, and neurodevelopmental outcomes related to autism.

Fish consumption and omega-3 supplement use were measured with dietary information reported by participants. Participants’ fish consumption was categorized as less than once a month, more than once a month but less than weekly, weekly, and two or more servings per week. About 20% of adult participants reported no fish intake, and most reported not using omega-3 or fish oil supplements.

The researchers then looked at the relationship between maternal fish intake and omega-3 fish oil supplement use during pregnancy and the occurrence of clinician-diagnosed autism and parent-reported autism-related traits. These traits were measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a widely used survey completed by parents or caregivers. Higher scores on the SRS indicate the presence of more autism-related behaviors.

Consuming fish during pregnancy was associated with a lower likelihood of offspring being diagnosed with autism and a slight decrease in total SRS scores compared to not eating fish. These results were consistent across all levels of fish consumption, from "any" amount or "less than once per week" to "more than twice per week." No significant associations were found between omega-3 fish oil supplements and autism diagnosis compared to no use.

Experts recommend that people consume additional omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy. Prenatal fish intake is a key source of omega-3 fatty acids that are critical for fetal brain development. However, fish and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in the U.S. is low.

“This study provides yet more evidence for the safety and benefit of regular fish consumption during pregnancy,” said Dr. Oken. “Other proven benefits include lower risk for preterm birth and improved cognitive development.”

Dr. Oken led this collaborative research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Oken, E. & Lyall, K. (2024) Association of maternal fish consumption and ω-3 supplement use during pregnancy with child autism-related outcomes: results from a cohort consortium analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.06.013

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About ECHO: Launched in 2016, the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program is a research program in the Office of the Director at the NIH with the mission to enhance the health of children for generations to come. ECHO investigators study the effects of a broad range of early environmental influences on child health and development. For more information, visit echochildren.org.

About the NIH: NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information, visit www.nih.gov.

Media Contacts

For information or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager, rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.

If you are not a member of the media, but have a general inquiry, please contact NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.

Connect With Us

Check out the recent issues of our bi-monthly newsletter, the ECHO Connector, for program news and the latest research findings.

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Follow @ECHOChildHealth on X for the latest ECHO Program updates.

ECHO Study Finds Children with Autism at Higher Risk for a Range of Diverse Health Outcomes

Authors: Elizabeth Kaplan-Kahn, Kristen Lyall, Heather Volk, et al.

Who sponsored this study?

The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health supported this research.

Why was this study needed?

Approximately 3% of children in the United States have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (or autism). A large proportion of autism research focuses on understanding the factors that influence the development of autistic traits. However, many people on the autism spectrum report that they would rather prioritize research into the factors that influence their overall health and well-being. This study addresses that priority by investigating the physical, emotional, and overall health outcomes of children on the autism spectrum.

What were the study results?

This study showed that autistic children are at higher risk than non-autistic children for poorer health outcomes indicated by lowest scores in Global Health and highest dysregulation scores (e.g. attention problems, aggressive behavior, and anxious-depressive symptoms). However, there is variability in health outcomes within autistic youth as shown by a group of autistic participants who showed high scores on positive health outcomes across domains. Additionally, compared to non-autistic children, more autistic children were born prematurely, had diagnoses of intellectual disability and ADHD, and had a sibling with autism.

What was the study's impact?

The results of this study offer a glimpse into the diversity of emotional, physical, and overall health outcomes for children on the autism spectrum. A deeper understanding of the range of health outcomes children with autism experience, and the factors that can affect these outcomes, may help families and practitioners identify and target areas for support or intervention.

Who was involved?

The study included over 4,500 children and adolescents at 29 ECHO research sites across the United States, including 286 participants with autism. The participants varied in age from 5 to 20 years old.

What happened during the study?

The researchers compared the health outcomes and demographic characteristics of a large sample of children, with 286 participants with autism and 4,225 participants without. They then used a subsample of 1,809 participants, of which 116 were autistic, to group children with similar physical health, emotional health, and overall well-being outcomes into one of three categories, “positive health,” “poorer health,” and “mixed health.” These categories were mostly determined by the results of multiple Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scales and other reports that evaluated participants’ peer relations, life satisfaction, behavior dysregulation, sleep disturbances, physical activity, etc. The three profiles of participants were then further analyzed to study differences in health outcomes between children on the autism spectrum to non-autistic children.

Footnote: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

What happens next?

Future work may focus on understanding the factors that influence poor or positive health for children with autism and how those factors change over time. This work might identify opportunities to support these children and promote positive health outcomes.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Describing Multidomain Health Outcomes in Autistic Children in the ECHO Program,” in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published August 27, 2024

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ECHO Study Finds Children with Autism at Higher Risk for a Range of Diverse Health Outcomes

ECHO Cohort Study Finds No Significant Evidence that Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Increases Likelihood of Child Autism Spectrum Disorder

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ECHO Cohort Study Finds No Significant Evidence that Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Increases Likelihood of Child Autism Spectrum Disorder

Authors: Chaela Nutor, Patricia A. Brennan, et al.

Who sponsored this study?

This research was supported by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health.

Why was this study needed?

With the legalization of cannabis in some areas of the U.S., there has been a decrease in the perception of risk and an increase in cannabis use among pregnant women. While fetal exposure to cannabis has been linked to poorer neonatal and cognitive outcomes, relatively few studies have examined the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

What were the study results?

The investigators found no evidence that prenatal cannabis exposure increased the likelihood for ASD in the group of children included in the study. There was also no evidence that child sex or gestational age at birth affected how prenatal cannabis exposure related to likelihood of ASD. No other aspects of brain or child development were evaluated in the study.

Note: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

What was this study's impact?

Although no significant associations were found with ASD outcomes in this study, other studies have found that prenatal cannabis exposure may still be associated with ASD traits or other facets of child development and behavior that were outside of the scope of this study.

Who was involved?

This study included 11,570 school-age children from 34 ECHO Cohort research sites across the U.S., including three sites that enrolled children with a higher likelihood of ASD and three sites that enrolled children from neonatal intensive care units (NICU).

What happened during the study?

ECHO Cohort researchers gathered data on cannabis use during pregnancy directly from mothers and indirectly from their medical records. They also collected information on ASD diagnosis, as well as caregiver-reported data on the children’s autism-related traits from the ages of 1 to 18 years. The researchers used this information to test whether prenatal cannabis use might be associated with ASD.

What happens next?

The researchers are planning another large national study to further examine the relationship between prenatal cannabis exposure and autism traits. Other work could examine whether exposure to cannabis in utero alters brain functioning.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Examining the Association Between Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Child Autism Behaviors: A Multi-cohort Investigation in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program," in Autism Research.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published August 2024

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ECHO Cohort Study Finds No Significant Evidence that Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Increases Likelihood of Child Autism Spectrum Disorder

New ECHO Cohort Research Suggests No Significant Association Between Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Child Autism-Related Outcomes

Posted on August 27, 2024March 31, 2025 by Jodi Snare

Collaborative ECHO research led by Chaela Nutor, MA and Patricia A. Brennan, PhD of Emory University investigates the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study looked at data from 11,570 school-aged children from across the United States and found no evidence that prenatal cannabis exposure increases the likelihood of ASD, regardless of the child’s sex or gestational age at birth. This research, titled “Examining the Association Between Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Child Autism Traits: A Multi-cohort Investigation in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program,” is published in Autism Research.

This study included children and their mothers from 34 ECHO cohorts across the United States. ECHO researchers gathered data on cannabis use during pregnancy directly from mothers and from their medical records. They also collected information on ASD diagnosis, as well as caregiver-reported data on the children’s autism traits when the children were 1 to 18 years. The researchers used these data and reports to test whether prenatal cannabis use might be associated with ASD.

“With the legalization of cannabis in some areas of the United States, there has been a decrease in the perception of risk and an increase in cannabis use among pregnant women,” said Chaela Nutor. “While fetal exposure to cannabis has been linked to poorer neonatal and cognitive outcomes, relatively few studies have tested the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and autism spectrum disorder.”

The results of this study supported the findings from previous studies showing that initial unadjusted associations between prenatal cannabis exposure and ASD behaviors in school-aged children are no longer significant when controlling for other factors, such as maternal use of other substances during pregnancy.

The researchers are planning another large national study to further investigate the relationship between prenatal cannabis exposure and autism-related behaviors. Future work could examine the role of continued exposure to cannabis after mothers are aware of pregnancy, and other studies could investigate combined exposure to tobacco and cannabis and associated risk for ASD.

Read the research summary.

ECHO Cohort Study Finds Link Between Infant Gut Microbiome and Autism-Related Traits

Posted on July 2, 2024July 2, 2024 by Jodi Snare

Collaborative ECHO research led by Vanja Klepac-Ceraj, PhD, of Wellesley College, and Juliette C. Madan, MD, MS, of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, investigates the relationship between the infant gut microbiome and childhood autism-related traits. This research, titled “Prospective Association of the Infant Gut Microbiome with Social Behaviors in the ECHO Consortium,” is published in Molecular Autism.

The study sought to identify gut bacteria linked to social traits and brain development in two ECHO Cohort Study Sites. Researchers found that certain features of the gut microbiome of infants were associated with higher scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), a questionnaire that measures autism-related traits. Specifically, certain bacteria and their functional genes, particularly those related to the production of short-chain fatty acids, were linked to autism-related traits. These associations varied between sex and age groups.

“The findings of this study help us understand the potential likelihood of autism-related traits through the gut-brain axis,” said Dr. Klepac-Ceraj. “This understanding could open up new avenues for targeted early interventions.”

Researchers studied 481 samples from 304 healthy child participants from ECHO Cohort study sites in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The children were between 6 weeks and 2 years old when they provided stool samples and between 3 and 19 years old when social traits were assessed.

In this study, researchers compared groups of participants from two different study sites, focusing on their gut microbiomes when they were younger and social traits related to ASD at a later age. Both study sites contributing to this analysis had previously sequenced bacterial DNA from fecal samples collected from infants or toddlers. They calculated how common certain bacteria were in each sample and related that to the participant’s social behavior scores.

Future studies could explore interventions that could change the gut bacteria and potentially influence how the brain develops. Researchers also plan to investigate the influence of the developing gut microbiome on other neurobehavioral outcomes, such as anxiety and depression.

Read the research summary.

ECHO Cohort Research Investigates Relationship Between Infant Gut Microbiome and Childhood Autism-related Traits

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ECHO Cohort Research Investigates Relationship Between Infant Gut Microbiome and Childhood Autism-related Traits

Authors: Vanja Klepac-Ceraj, Juliette C. Madan, et al.

Who sponsored this study?

The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health supported this research.

Why was this study needed?

The relationship between a person’s gut bacteria and the brain during early childhood, especially from birth to around age three years, helps the immune and nervous systems develop and function. The gut microbiome could be a promising area of research to understand the development of autism-related traits. Previous studies have found links between gut bacteria and social traits, but the results are not the same in different populations. To include a broader population of children in the U.S., researchers in this study sought to identify gut bacteria linked to social traits and brain development in two ECHO Cohort Study Sites.

What were the study results?

Researchers found that certain features of the gut microbiome of infants were associated with higher scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), a questionnaire that measures autism-related traits. Specifically, certain bacteria and their functional genes, particularly those related to the production of short-chain fatty acids, were linked to autism-related traits. These associations varied between sex and age groups.

Note: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and for answers to your personal questions.

What was this study's impact?

Understanding the potential likelihood of autism-related traits through the lens of the gut-brain axis opens new avenues for targeted interventions in early life.

Who was involved?

Researchers studied 481 samples from 304 healthy child participants from two ECHO Cohort study sites in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The children were between 6 weeks old and 2 years old when they provided stool samples and between 3 and 19 years old when social traits were assessed.

What happened during the study?

The researchers compared groups of participants from two different study sites, focusing on their gut microbiomes when they were younger and social traits related to ASD at a later age. Both study sites contributing to this analysis had previously sequenced bacterial DNA from fecal samples collected from infants or toddlers. They calculated how common certain bacteria were in each sample and related that to the participant’s social behavior scores.

What happens next?

Future studies could explore interventions that could change the gut bacteria and potentially influence how the brain develops. Researchers also plan to investigate the influence of the developing gut microbiome on other neurobehaviorial outcomes, such as anxiety and depression.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Prospective Association of the Infant Gut Microbiome with Social Behaviors in the ECHO Consortium,” in Molecular Autism.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published May 17, 2024

Read the associated article.

Download this summary

ECHO Cohort Research Investigates Relationship Between Infant Gut Microbiome and Childhood Autism-related Traits

New ECHO Research Observed Shortened Social Responsiveness Scale to be Comparable to Full Version in Autism Risk Factor Estimation

Posted on September 5, 2023September 25, 2023 by Jodi Snare

Collaborative ECHO research led by Marisa Patti, PhD and Kristen Lyall, ScD of AJ Drexel Autism Institute investigates how a shortened version of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) compares to the full questionnaire in order to potentially decrease the time participants need to take assessments. This research, titled “A Comparative Analysis of the Full and Short Versions of the Social Responsiveness Scale in Estimating an Established Autism Risk Factor Association in ECHO: Do we Get the Same Estimates?” is published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

The SRS questionnaire is used to measure social communication and autism-related traits. Researchers have developed a shortened version with only 16 questions out of the original 65. This shortened version is intended to provide a similar summary of overall traits as the longer version, but take less time to complete.

The shorter SRS has been tested to ensure that it measures autism-related traits. Before this study, it was not clear if the short SRS could be used in the same way as the full SRS to study autism risk factors in different research projects and get similar results. In order to address whether the short version can detect associations in the same way as the full version, researchers examined associations with established risk factors for autism- preterm birth and gestational age.

In this study, which included 2,760 child-parent pairs from 11 research sites, younger gestational age and pre-term birth were associated with higher SRS scores, suggesting these may be risk factors for autism-related behaviors in children. The study also found similar associations using the shortened SRS, suggesting both the short and longer versions can detect autism risk factor associations in comparable ways.

Gathering meaningful information for research studies can be time-consuming for participants. This study suggests that shorter assessments can be as useful as longer ones to help reduce the time participants spend answering questionnaires.

“Studies like ours show that the same information can be collected using shorter, less time-consuming assessments to alleviate participant burden by reducing the administration time of assessments,” Dr. Patti said. “In future work, the short SRS can be used without compromising the ability of the assessment to correctly identify associations.”

Future research studies are needed to investigate how comparable estimates are between the full and short SRS using other established risk factors. Researchers may also consider using the short SRS in place of the full SRS in future studies to reduce the overall amount of time participants spend on a research study.

Read the research summary.

NIH Study Suggests Association Between Prenatal Depression and Greater Autism-related Traits in Children

Posted on August 1, 2023August 27, 2025 by Jodi Snare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Children of mothers with prenatal depression had slightly more autism-related traits compared to those without that exposure, according to a study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.

While this study didn’t explore why this association might exist, future research could investigate whether these findings reflect overlap in genetic risk for depression and autism-related traits or another mechanism.

Prior studies linked prenatal depression and depression history to autism spectrum disorder, but this study focused broadly on autism-related traits. By studying social communication and other autism-related traits, researchers can better understand how prenatal depression influences these traits, which may show up in children without an official diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

“Autism-related traits can significantly impact a child's physical, social, and psychological development, regardless of their clinical diagnosis. Screening and treating pregnant patients for depression and detecting autism-related traits in these children early on can lead to timely support of healthy development and outcomes for mothers and children,” said study author Lyndsay Avalos, PhD, MPH, of Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research.

The analysis included 3,994 parent-child pairs with prenatal depression data and 1,730 pairs with depression severity data from 33 ECHO research sites across the United States. Autism-related traits were assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) for children up to 12 years of age.

Dr. Avalos and Lisa Croen, PhD, also of Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, led this collaborative research published in Autism Research.

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About ECHO: Launched in 2016, the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program is a research program in the Office of the Director at the NIH with the mission to enhance the health of children for generations to come. ECHO investigators study the effects of a broad range of early environmental influences on child health and development. For more information, visit echochildren.org.

About the NIH: NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information, visit www.nih.gov.

Media Contacts

For information or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager, rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.

If you are not a member of the media, but have a general inquiry, please contact NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.

Connect With Us

Check out the recent issues of our bi-monthly newsletter, the ECHO Connector, for program news and the latest research findings.

To receive the ECHO Connector through email, subscribe here.

Follow @ECHOChildHealth for the latest ECHO Program updates on Twitter.

New ECHO Research Suggests Link Between Prenatal Depression and Autism-related Traits

Posted on August 1, 2023November 22, 2023 by Jodi Snare

Collaborative ECHO research led by Lyndsay A. Avalos, PhD and Lisa A. Croen, PhD of Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research investigates the potential link between prenatal depression or a history of depression prior to pregnancy and autism-related traits in children. This research, titled “Prenatal Depression and Risk of Child Autism-Related Traits Among Participants in the Environmental influences On Child Health Outcomes Program,” is published in Autism Research.

Previous research suggests an association between prenatal depression or a history of depression prior to pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, but most studies have focused on a formal ASD diagnosis, rather than autism-related traits.

This study examined parent-child pairs at 33 prenatal and pediatric research sites in the United States. The primary analysis included 3,994 parent-child pairs with prenatal depression diagnosis data; a secondary analysis included 1,730 parent-child pairs with depression severity data. Children of mothers with prenatal depression had slightly more autism-related traits compared to those without. The association was similar among boys and girls. Prenatal depression also increased the likelihood of moderate to severe autism-related traits, indicating a higher likelihood of ASD diagnosis.

“Autism-related traits can significantly impact a child’s physical, social, and psychological development, regardless of their clinical diagnosis. Screening and treating pregnant patients for depression and detecting autism-related traits in these children early on can lead to timely support of healthy development and outcomes for mothers and children,” said study author Dr. Avalos.

This study adds to the understanding of how prenatal depression may be associated with neurodevelopment in children, such as social communication and behavioral characteristics that may not reach a clinical threshold but can still impact a child’s social and behavioral functioning. These findings highlight the need for early ASD screening for children whose parents had prenatal depression to promote early intervention and support their healthy development. Mental health screening and prevention efforts for depression in pregnant individuals could also be beneficial.

Read the research summary.