Research published in the journal Nature in July 2025 has established a significant link between maternal asthma and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. Conducted by Jingfang Zheng and colleagues, the meta-analysis revealed that children born to mothers with asthma have a 36% higher likelihood of developing ASD compared to those whose mothers do not have the condition.
ASD currently affects around 10% of children globally, according to the World Health Organization. The disorder is believed to arise from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, with maternal asthma emerging as a significant contributor. The condition is characterized by inflammation in the lungs, which may influence the hormonal and immune environment during pregnancy, ultimately affecting fetal brain development.
To validate previous studies linking maternal asthma to ASD, Zheng and the research team conducted a comprehensive analysis of data from several electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. They included studies published up to October 2024, focusing on cases where mothers with asthma were compared to those without in terms of ASD prevalence among their children. A total of eight studies were selected, encompassing a population of over 1.9 million children, with 152,697 having asthmatic mothers.
The findings indicated that while both male and female children are affected, the increased odds of developing ASD were particularly pronounced in male children, who showed a 28% increased likelihood when compared to their counterparts born to asthma-free mothers. This suggests that the influence of maternal asthma may be sex-specific in its impact on ASD risk.
Despite these compelling findings, the authors noted that the certainty of the associations is low, primarily due to variations in study designs and outcomes. Zheng emphasized the need for further research to clarify the relationship between maternal asthma and ASD risk, particularly to determine the underlying mechanisms involved.
Looking ahead, epidemiologists at GlobalData project that the number of diagnosed ASD cases in men will decline from 5.9 million in 2025 to 5.7 million by 2031 across 16 major markets, including the United States, France, and Japan. For women, diagnosed cases are expected to decrease from 2 million to 1.9 million over the same period.
As more studies emerge, the understanding of how maternal conditions such as asthma can influence child development will continue to evolve, potentially informing preventive strategies and healthcare practices for expectant mothers.
