J Clin Endocrinol Metab

Persistent maternal hypothyroidism tied to higher autism risk

December 3, 2025

A large cohort study of over 51,000 births found that mothers with untreated thyroid hormone imbalance across multiple trimesters had a significantly higher risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Adequately treated chronic thyroid dysfunction didn't increase risk, but prolonged imbalance showed a dose-response effect: the more trimesters affected, the greater the risk.

Clinical takeaway: Routine thyroid screening and timely treatment throughout pregnancy may help reduce prolonged hormonal imbalance and associated neurodevelopmental risk.

Source:

Elbedour L, et al. (2025, November 25). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Maternal Thyroid Hormone Imbalance and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41288361/