Prenatal and birth factors associated with child autism diagnosis: a birth cohort perspective

Autism spectrum disorder (autism) is a multifactorial condition. Here we report on multiple prenatal environmental, demographic, maternal and pregnancy factors that are associated with an increased likelihood of an autism diagnosis. For example, adherence to the Australian Dietary Guidelines during pregnancy is linked to a reduced likelihood of autism in the offspring, consistent with mounting evidence that prenatal nutrition impacts brain development. We examine how the multiple risk factors, identified by our comprehensive approach, may be linked to shared biological mechanisms. Future work should examine composite exposure measures acting through shared mechanisms as a more productive approach to understanding aetiology than focusing solely on individual exposures.