Study finds new insight on maternal infections, neurodevelopmental disorders

Updated:5 years, 5 months ago

New Delhi, May 06 (ANI): Researchers have found that the immune responses of a female mouse before pregnancy can predict how likely her offspring are to have behavioural deficits if the immune system is activated during pregnancy. The study results could help resolve what role serious infections during pregnancy play in the later development of conditions such as autism and schizophrenia in offspring. Both genetics and a variety of environmental risk factors are thought to play a role in mental illness, said Professor Kim McAllister, director of the Center for Neuroscience and senior author on the paper. Most pregnancies are resilient, she said. Although the risk from maternal immune activation is low, it could provide a way into the underlying problems that lead to schizophrenia or autism.

Related Video

iocl