One of the most notable findings from the study was the differences in vulnerability to early developmental changes between genders.
The results showed that female embryos appeared to be shielded from the effects of maternal inflammation. On the other hand, up to one-third of male embryos were significantly impacted by it.
The observation is in line with the long-held understanding that autism is more prevalent in boys than girls.
Additionally, the findings give researchers more opportunity to investigate the reasons behind the gender imbalance.
As with many breakthrough studies, many new questions were raised. Hopefully, in the future, researchers will be able to determine how exactly a mother’s immune response influences fetal brain development and what protects female embryos from the effects of maternal inflammation.
There is still much more work to be done. For instance, the transition from mouse models to human embryos must be carried out, but the process is still years in the making.
Overall, this research is important because it could help improve the lives of pregnant mothers and children with autism and allow for better support strategies and outcomes.
