BGU Study Finds Link Between Autism and Thyroid Disorders
BGU Study Finds Link Between Autism and Thyroid Disorders
December 5, 2025
If left untreated, thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy can cause an increased risk of autism, a Ben-Gurion University of the Negev study finds.
The New York Post— New research led in part by experts from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) is shedding light on how thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study analyzed data from more than 51,000 women in Israel who gave birth between 2011 and 2017, revealing that abnormal thyroid hormone levels that persisted across all three trimesters faced more than triple the risk.
A central contributor to the study, Dr. Idan Menashe, a senior lecturer at BGU, emphasized the importance of proper management. “We found that while adequately treated chronic thyroid dysfunction was not associated with increased autism risk in offspring, ongoing imbalance across multiple trimesters was,” he said to the New York Post. As highlighted by the New York Post, Dr. Menashe noted that these findings point to an opportunity for intervention rather than an unavoidable risk. The study reinforces how thyroid hormones play a foundational role in fetal brain development, guiding neuron growth, connectivity, and early structural formation.
Despite thyroid disease being one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age, routine thyroid testing is not standard in many countries, including the United States. This gap leaves many pregnant women undiagnosed — and potentially at higher risk — given that up to 60% of individuals with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. The research team warns that untreated thyroid dysfunction has long been linked not only to miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and premature birth, but also to long-term neurodevelopmental challenges such as ASD and ADHD.
The new findings highlight the need for more proactive screening and treatment. “These findings underscore the need for routine monitoring and timely adjustment of therapy to maintain normal thyroid hormone levels throughout pregnancy,” Dr. Menashe added. Additional research, including a large U.S. study from 2020, further supports the connection between maternal thyroid health and neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting that thyroid function may play an even more significant role in behavioral conditions than previously believed. Together, these insights underscore the critical importance of maternal thyroid care — and the impactful work being led by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
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