Study Reveals Gender, Socioeconomic Status, Longer Breastfeeding, Prenatal Smoking, Infections, and Family History of Autoimmune Diseases Influence Risks
Groundbreaking research from Sweden has prospectively investigated early environmental and psychosocial factors related to ADHD, ASD, and their co-occurrence, revealing significant insights into the risks and potential preventive measures. The study shows that being male is an important predictor for all three outcomes, with a slightly lower male-to-female ratio than traditionally reported, possibly due to underreporting of symptoms by females. Lower household income and younger maternal age were independently associated with increased risks of ADHD, ASD, and their co-occurrence, underscoring the role of socioeconomic factors. Longer breastfeeding was linked to a lower risk of ADHD, suggesting protective benefits from maternal-infant bonding and essential nutrients. The study found associations between prenatal smoking and serious life events with higher ADHD risk, while infections and autoimmune diseases during pregnancy were tied to greater ASD risk. Notably, the study highlights that ADHD and ASD co-occurrence may share some genetic or environmental risk factors, particularly a family history of autoimmune diseases. These findings suggest that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of these disorders and call for preventive measures focusing on socioeconomic and prenatal health to mitigate risks.
