NIH Awards Grant to Study the Connection Between Autism and Autoimmunity During Pregnancy

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $3 million grant to Feinstein Institute for Medical Research scientists Betty Diamond, MD, and Peter K. Gregersen, MD, to study the relationship between a mother’s autoimmunity during pregnancy and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in her child. Specifically, the study will look at whether women with autoimmune inflammatory disorders have increased levels of antibodies and are, therefore, at an increased risk of having children with ASD. In previous research, Drs. Diamond and Gregersen discovered an antibody can lead to abnormal brain development and ASD symptoms.

The study, titled Prenatal Autoimmune and Inflammatory Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders, will follow 4,500 pregnant women who deliver at Northwell Health hospitals and their offspring for two years. The mothers will be given a blood test during pregnancy to identify the presence of autoimmune disease, immune activation and increased cytokine levels. After birth, researchers will monitor their offspring to see if they exhibit signs of ASD.