Epidemiological study indicates link between maternal polycystic ovarian syndrome and autism spectrum disorders in offspring
A population-based, matched case–control study conducted at the Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden) has determined a potential causal association between maternal polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and an increased risk of development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in their offspring. . The findings, which were published recently in Molecular Psychiatry, point to increased prenatal exposure of the child to androgen hormones in mothers with PCOS as a potential mechanism for the relationship. ASDs represent a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders, involving a complex interplay between genetics and the environment and being characterized by impaired language and social interaction. However, there is as...