A meta-analysis of nearly 50 scientific studies suggests that gestational diabetes—a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy—may have long-term consequences not only for mothers’ health but also for their children’s brain development.
The research, being presented next week at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, combined results from more than nine million pregnancies across 20 countries.
It found that women who developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy experienced measurable declines in intellectual function.
Moreover, their children were more likely to face developmental challenges, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Gestational diabetes affects about 14 percent of pregnancies worldwide and is becoming increasingly common—particularly among women who are older, living with obesity, have a family history of diabetes or are from non-white ethnic groups.
While the condition usually resolves after birth, it is known to raise risks for complications such as high blood pressure, caesarean delivery and future type 2 diabetes.
For babies, exposure can increase the likelihood of premature birth, high birth weight and low blood sugar after delivery.
Now, the new findings suggest that the impact of gestational diabetes extends far beyond the immediate pregnancy.
“Our findings underscore the urgency of addressing this significant public health concern that poses substantial cognitive dysfunction risks for both mothers and offspring,” said paper author professor Ling-Jun Li of the National University of Singapore’s School of Medicine in a statement.
The meta-analysis examined 48 observational studies published up to April 2024. For mothers, the team analyzed data from five studies assessing cognitive function during pregnancy.
Women with gestational diabetes scored on average 2.47 points lower on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (a 30-point scale used to screen for mild cognitive impairment) compared with women without the condition.
For children, the disparities were striking. Across 43 studies, researchers found that children exposed to gestational diabetes in the womb had lower IQ scores—by nearly 4 points on average—compared with peers whose mothers did not have the condition.
Verbal crystallized intelligence, which reflects language comprehension and communication skills, was also reduced by just over three points.
Even more concerning were the associations with developmental disorders. The analysis found that children born to mothers with gestational diabetes had:
- A 45 percent higher risk of developmental delays.
- A 36 percent increased likelihood of ADHD.
- A 56 percent greater risk of autism spectrum disorder.
The researchers did not find significant differences in overall brain structure or general cognitive scores, suggesting that gestational diabetes may affect specific domains of cognition and behavior rather than global brain development.
The exact mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers propose that factors such as chronic inflammation, oxidative stress (cell damage), reduced oxygen supply and high insulin levels during pregnancy may disrupt how the developing brain forms in utero.
These biological stresses could later translate into challenges with learning, attention, and social communication.
Li said the key message for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes is to look after both their own health during pregnancy and their child’s development after birth.
“Monitoring routine developmental milestones in their children is important,” she told Newsweek.
“With respect to mothers, the evidence on postpartum neurocognitive function is still lacking, so we are unable to draw conclusions at this stage.”
For women at risk but not yet diagnosed, Dr. Li recommended close monitoring of blood sugar under medical guidance, such as early screening, together with a healthy antenatal diet and lifestyle.
Current clinical trials are evaluating strategies for optimal glycemic control in gestational diabetes, showing promising results for short-term maternal and neonatal outcomes.
“However, evidence regarding long-term neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism remains sparse,” Dr. Li noted.
“We will need to await results from longer follow-up randomized controlled trials to confirm whether these approaches yield benefits in that domain.”
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Reference
Ma, J. J., Hong, R. P. W., Caitlin Por, Tristan Ong, Nigel Cong Kai Yeo, Muzi Chen, Jiayi Shen, & Ling-Jun Li. (2025). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Maternal and Offspring Neurocognitive Dysfunction: A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis. EASD 2025, Vienna.
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