Sex Hormones During Pregnancy and Child Development

Summary

Sex hormones during pregnancy can have a significant impact on brain development, behavior, and health, yet knowledge in this area remains limited. Autism can present differently in children assigned female at birth compared to those assigned male, and the lack of research on autistic traits in girls may contribute to delayed recognition and diagnosis. A better understanding of hormonal influences could improve knowledge of how autism traits manifest in boys and girls, potentially facilitating earlier identification and more tailored support and accommodations.

A substantial part of the disabling challenges experienced by autistic individuals stems from co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Understanding how hormonal factors contribute to the development of these co-occurring conditions could be important for early identification and intervention.

This project aims to examine associations between maternal blood levels of sex hormones during pregnancy and child development, including in children with and without autism. The study will utilize data and biological samples from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Additionally, it will incorporate autism-related data from the Autism Birth Cohort Study (ABC Study), the autism sub-study within MoBa.

No analyses have been initiated yet, as the first step of the project is to gather insights and feedback from user representatives to refine research questions and analytical approaches. The user panel includes neurodivergent researchers and lived-experience consultants from the Norwegian Autism Association. The project also builds on insights from focus groups and interviews with autistic consultants conducted at the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge.