Association Between Exposure to Antibiotics During Pregnancy or Early Infancy and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disorder, Language Disorder, and Epilepsy in Children: Population-Based Cohort Study

( BMJ . 2024;385:e076885. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076885) Neurodevelopmental disorders are increasingly recognized as a major public health issue in children due to their significant long-term impacts on individuals and society. The global prevalence of conditions such as autism spectrum disorders has been steadily rising. While the exact causes of these disorders remain unclear, potential risk factors include advanced maternal age, preterm birth, and environmental influences. Emerging evidence suggests that changes in the gut microbiome could play a role in the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, with antibiotics—commonly used during pregnancy and infancy—potentially disrupting the microbiome.