A recent study conducted in the United States has uncovered a concerning link between low levels of vital chemicals that regulate the body during the first three months of pregnancy and impaired brain development in babies.
These chemicals, known as hormones produced by the thyroid gland in the neck, have long been recognized to impact fetal development. It has been hypothesized that disruptions in their production, or hypothyroidism, may contribute to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder among children in the US.
Conducted by researchers at NYU Long Island School of Medicine, the study revealed that children born to mothers diagnosed with hypothyroidism just before or during early pregnancy face a 24% higher risk of developing ADHD compared to children whose mothers did not have this diagnosis. Furthermore, the study found that boys born to mothers with hypothyroidism are four times more likely to develop ADHD than girls from hypothyroid mothers. Among the ethnic groups studied, Spanish-origin children born to mothers with hypothyroidism were found to have the highest risk.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Morgan R. Peltier, the lead author of the study and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine, emphasized the significant role of thyroid health in fetal brain development and behavioral disorders.