IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i6p2817-d514344.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Association between Viral Infections and Risk of Autistic Disorder: An Overview

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmad Naqib Shuid

    (Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas 13200, Malaysia)

  • Putri Ayu Jayusman

    (Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Nazrun Shuid

    (Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sg Buloh 47000, Malaysia)

  • Juriza Ismail

    (Autism Research Group, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Norazlin Kamal Nor

    (Autism Research Group, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Isa Naina Mohamed

    (Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition of the central nervous system (CNS) that presents with severe communication problems, impairment of social interactions, and stereotypic behaviours. Emerging studies indicate possible associations between viral infections and neurodegenerative and neurobehavioural conditions including autism. Viral infection during critical periods of early in utero neurodevelopment may lead to increased risk of autism in the offspring. This review is aimed at highlighting the association between viral infections, including viruses similar to COVID-19, and the aetiology of autism. A literature search was conducted using Pubmed, Ovid/Medline, and Google Scholar database. Relevant search terms included “rubella and autism”, “cytomegalovirus and autism”, “influenza virus and autism”, “Zika virus and autism”, “COVID-19 and autism”. Based on the search terms, a total of 141 articles were obtained and studies on infants or children with congenital or perinatal viral infection and autistic behaviour were evaluated. The possible mechanisms by which viral infections could lead to autism include direct teratogenic effects and indirect effects of inflammation or maternal immune activation on the developing brain. Brain imaging studies have shown that the ensuing immune response from these viral infections could lead to disruption of the development of brain regions and structures. Hence, long-term follow up is necessary for infants whose mothers report an inflammatory event due to viral infection at any time during pregnancy to monitor for signs of autism. Research into the role of viral infection in the development of ASD may be one avenue of improving ASD outcomes in the future. Early screening and diagnosis to detect, and maybe even prevent ASD are essential to reduce the burden of this condition.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad Naqib Shuid & Putri Ayu Jayusman & Nazrun Shuid & Juriza Ismail & Norazlin Kamal Nor & Isa Naina Mohamed, 2021. "Association between Viral Infections and Risk of Autistic Disorder: An Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-17, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:2817-:d:514344
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/2817/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/2817/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anthony R. Mawson & Ashley M. Croft, 2019. "Rubella Virus Infection, the Congenital Rubella Syndrome, and the Link to Autism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-28, September.
    2. Fernanda R. Cugola & Isabella R. Fernandes & Fabiele B. Russo & Beatriz C. Freitas & João L. M. Dias & Katia P. Guimarães & Cecília Benazzato & Nathalia Almeida & Graciela C. Pignatari & Sarah Romero , 2016. "The Brazilian Zika virus strain causes birth defects in experimental models," Nature, Nature, vol. 534(7606), pages 267-271, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pamela E. Capendale & Inés García-Rodríguez & Anoop T. Ambikan & Lance A. Mulder & Josse A. Depla & Eline Freeze & Gerrit Koen & Carlemi Calitz & Vikas Sood & Renata Vieira de Sá & Ujjwal Neogi & Dasj, 2024. "Parechovirus infection in human brain organoids: host innate inflammatory response and not neuro-infectivity correlates to neurologic disease," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:2817-:d:514344. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.