article_snippet.sent: Marlena Fejzo, an associate researcher in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA said: ‘These findings show that it is vital to take HG seriously so these pregnant women can get nutritional support right away.
article_snippet.sent: The study looked at 312 children born to 203 mothers with HG between 2007 and 2011 and compared those to 169 children born to 89 mothers who did not have HG.
article_snippet.sent: Dr Fejzo said the mechanism for exposure to HG and the resulting abnormal neurologic development is not clear.
article_snippet.sent: Children exposed in the womb to HG had a 3.28-fold increased risk of neurodevelopmental delays.
article_snippet.sent: Previous studies have shown that HG is associated with low birth weight babies, small size for gestational age and pre-term births.
article_snippet.sent: Earlier research by Dr Fejzo’s team found HG was associated with a 3.6-fold increased risk of behavioural or emotional disorders in adults.
article_snippet.sent: The researchers are investigating the genetic basis of HG, as well as looking at risk factors and outcomes.
article_snippet.sent: ‘A significant increase in neurodevelopmental and behavioural disorders in children exposed to HG in utero was demonstrated which suggests HG may be linked to life-long effects on the exposed fetus.