A new study of more than 1 million Danish children has linked prenatal exposure to common steroid medications, used to prevent preterm births and improve fetal lung development, to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other neurodevelopmental problems.
Although there was a link between prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids and mental health, the risk differences “were low or moderate,” Kristina Laugesen, corresponding study author from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, told The Epoch Times.
Study Raises Questions About Drug Safety
Systemic glucocorticoids are synthetic derivatives of cortisol, a natural steroid produced by the adrenal glands with profound anti-inflammatory effects. Also called corticosteroids or cortisones, this class of drugs includes frequently prescribed medications such as prednisone, prednisolone, and hydrocortisone. These effectively treat various conditions, ranging from rashes and inflammatory bowel disease to asthma.
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
