The Prenatal Hormone Milieu in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Overview

Journal Front Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2021 Jul 19

PMID 34276434

Citations 12

Authors

Whitney Worsham

Susan Dalton

Deborah A Bilder

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Though the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains largely unknown, recent findings suggest that hormone dysregulation within the prenatal environment, in conjunction with genetic factors, may alter fetal neurodevelopment. Early emphasis has been placed on the potential role of exposure to androgens, particularly testosterone, to theorize ASD as the manifestation of an "extreme male brain." The relationship between autism risk and obstetric conditions associated with inflammation and steroid dysregulation merits a much broader understanding of the steroid environment and its potential influence on fetal neuroendocrine development. The exploration of hormone dysregulation in the prenatal environment and ASD development builds upon prior research publishing associations with obstetric conditions and ASD risk. The insight gained may be applied to the development of chronic adult metabolic diseases that share prenatal risk factors with ASD. Future research directions will also be discussed.

Citing Articles

Steroidogenic pathway in girls diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

Jansakova K, Hill M, Celusakova H, Repiska G, Bicikova M, Macova L PLoS One. 2024; 19(12):e0312933.

PMID: 39636905 PMC: 11620458. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312933.

Regional differences in autism and intellectual disability risk associated with cesarean section delivery.

Bilder D, Sullivan S, Hughes M, Dalton S, Hall-Lande J, Nicholls C Autism Res. 2024; 17(11):2418-2429.

PMID: 39420702 PMC: 11568895. DOI: 10.1002/aur.3247.

Prenatal environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorder and their potential mechanisms.

Love C, Sominsky L, OHely M, Berk M, Vuillermin P, Dawson S BMC Med. 2024; 22(1):393.

PMID: 39278907 PMC: 11404034. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03617-3.

Giftedness and atypical sexual differentiation: enhanced perceptual functioning through estrogen deficiency instead of androgen excess.

Sakaguchi K, Tawata S Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024; 15:1343759.

PMID: 38752176 PMC: 11094242. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1343759.

Extracellular vesicles as carriers of mRNA: Opportunities and challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

Kirian R, Steinman D, Jewell C, Zierden H Theranostics. 2024; 14(5):2265-2289.

PMID: 38505610 PMC: 10945352. DOI: 10.7150/thno.93115.

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