Research has established a significant connection between maternal asthma and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. A recent meta-analysis published in the journal Nature in July 2025 revealed that children born to mothers with asthma face a 36% greater risk of developing ASD compared to those whose mothers do not have the condition.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 10% of children worldwide are affected by ASD, a condition believed to arise from both genetic and environmental factors. Maternal asthma, defined as asthma existing prior to childbirth, is theorized to influence this risk by altering the mother’s immune response, which may impact the hormonal levels necessary for fetal brain development.
The study led by Jingfang Zheng and colleagues conducted a comprehensive analysis of existing research, drawing data from major electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. This meta-analysis covered studies published until October 2024 and focused on the link between maternal asthma and ASD prevalence in children.
Out of numerous studies examined, eight met the criteria for inclusion. These studies comprised five from the United States, one from Sweden, one multicentre study, and one from both Taiwan and mainland China. The combined sample size included 152,697 children of asthmatic mothers and 1,809,488 children of mothers without asthma.
The findings indicated that male children of asthmatic mothers exhibited a statistically significant increased risk of developing ASD, with a 28% heightened likelihood compared to their peers born to mothers without asthma. This suggests that the effects of maternal asthma on ASD may vary based on the child’s sex.
While these results provide compelling evidence of maternal asthma as a potential risk factor for ASD, the researchers categorized the certainty of these trends as low due to variations in study designs and outcomes across the included research. Zheng and colleagues emphasized the need for further studies to thoroughly investigate the relationship between maternal asthma and ASD risk.
In a broader context, epidemiologists at GlobalData project that diagnosed cases of ASD will experience a decline in the 16 major markets, including the United States, France, Germany, and China. They forecast that cases among men will decrease from 5.9 million in 2025 to 5.7 million by 2031, while cases among women are expected to drop from 2 million to 1.9 million during the same period.
As research continues, it remains crucial to further explore the implications of maternal health on child development, particularly in relation to conditions like ASD.
