Parents' Autoimmune Diseases May Affect Children's Development
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Results of a meta-analysis carried out by a French team indicate that there is a link between a father's or mother's autoimmune disease and their children's risk of developing certain neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder [ASD] and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]). This meta-analysis is the first to separately explore the link between a father's or mother's autoimmune disease and the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders in their children.
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@jaspreet According to its authors, these associations may result from exposure to environmental factors that contribute to autoimmune disorders, such as exposure to pollutants or cigarette smoke, and/or genetic predisposition, including genes relating to cytokines or to the HLA system. Research is needed to determine the pathophysiologic links between these associations. This study suggests that there could be a shared mechanism between both parents, even though the maternal route seems to constitute an additional excess risk.