IMR Press / JIN / Volume 23 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.31083/j.jin2301015
Open Access Review
The Association between Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Offspring: An Overview of Current Evidence
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1 Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, Jiangsu, China
2 Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 214023 Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
3 Center of Reproduction and Genetics, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, 215006 Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
4 Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Women's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Jiangnan University, 214002 Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
*Correspondence: liuyanping_629@163.com (Yanping Liu); 7222808009@stu.jiangnan.edu.cn (Ye Yang)
These authors contributed equally.
J. Integr. Neurosci. 2024, 23(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2301015
Submitted: 1 May 2023 | Revised: 27 July 2023 | Accepted: 31 July 2023 | Published: 16 January 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetic Factors in Neurodevelopment and Neurodegenerative Diseases)
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

The utilization of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is on the rise, resulting in a growing population of ART-conceived offspring. The health concerns of this unique population have attracted significant attention. During ART procedures, gametes and early-stage embryos are exposed to various non-physiological conditions, such as manipulation, culture media, and cryopreservation, which may disrupt embryonic development and potentially impact the health of offspring. Notably, the potential impact of ART on neurodevelopment and its association with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) later in life remains a subject of debate. This review aims to summarize the current research advancements concerning the effects of ART on neurodevelopment, specifically focusing on the evidence of the relationship between ART, epigenetic modifications, and NDD, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and cerebral palsy. Future studies should prioritize large sample sizes, rigorous adjustment for confounding factors, and the use of interdisciplinary approaches to effectively monitor the neurodevelopmental outcomes of ART-conceived children.

Keywords
assisted reproductive technology
epigenetics
DNA methylation
offspring neurodevelopment
neurodevelopmental disorders
Funding
Q202111/Wuxi Health Commission Project
Figures
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