Essential Reads: Why All Women of Reproductive Age Should Take Folic Acid
Folic Acid Awareness Week (Sept 7–14, 2025) focuses on the importance of daily folic acid supplements for women to prevent birth defects, as diet alone is often insufficient.
Prenatal Exposure to Cannabis and Risk of Autism in Children
Based on the findings of two meta-analyses and several large cohort studies, we cannot conclude that cannabis is “safe” for use during pregnancy. Data regarding risk for autism spectrum disorder is mixed.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children Exposed to Antipsychotic Medications During Pregnancy
Prenatal exposure to antipsychotic medications was not associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring.
Essential Reads: Prenatal Valproate Exposure and Risk of Autism in Children
Prenatal exposure to valproic acid was associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in exposed children.
Increased Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the Children of Women with Eating Disorders
Children of mothers with eating disorders, and in particular the children of mothers with a current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa during pregnancy, are at an increased risk of either ADHD or ASD.
Prevalence of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Antipsychotic Medications
The findings of this study do not suggest that prenatal antipsychotics exposure is associated with increased risk for ADHD, ASD, small for gestational age, or preterm birth.
Prenatal Exposure to Valproic Acid Linked to Increased Risk for Autism, ADHD
Prenatal exposure to valproate has been associated with an elevated risk (10%) for a broad range of congenital malformations including neural tube defects, as well as adverse neurodevelopmental sequelae, including lower IQ and developmental delays [...]
Iron-Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy Affects Child’s Brain Development
We often talk about the importance of planning for pregnancy. In these discussions, we emphasize the importance of supplementation with folic acid as a means of decreasing risk for birth defects and improving neurodevelopmental [...]
No Increased Risk of Autism in Children Prenatally Exposed to Commonly Used Antidepressants
Concerns regarding a link between antidepressant use during pregnancy and autism emerged when two epidemiologic studies demonstrated an association between prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) with an increased risk of autism [...]
Autism Spectrum Disorders and Maternal Nutrition
Current research suggests that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) occur as a result of events that take place during pregnancy. While genetic factors play an important role, non-heritable risk factors contribute to a substantial proportion of [...]