Illustration symbolizing the connection between maternal thyroid health and child development during pregnancy.

Thyroid Troubles During Pregnancy: Is There a Link to Cerebral Palsy?

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the connection between maternal thyroid disorders and the risk of cerebral palsy in children: what the research says."

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability affecting children, impacting motor skills and coordination. While the causes of CP are complex and not fully understood, recent research has begun to explore potential links between a mother's health during pregnancy and the child's risk of developing CP.

One area of interest is the role of thyroid hormones during pregnancy. The thyroid gland produces hormones essential for brain development, and disruptions in thyroid function during pregnancy could potentially affect a child's neurological development. This article examines a population-based cohort study that investigated the association between maternal thyroid disorders and the risk of cerebral palsy in children.

This study aimed to determine if maternal thyroid disorders are associated with increased risk of cerebral palsy, providing additional clarity for mothers.

Decoding the Study: Maternal Thyroid Issues and Cerebral Palsy Risk

Illustration symbolizing the connection between maternal thyroid health and child development during pregnancy.

This research involved two study populations. The first included 1,270,079 children born in Denmark between 1979 and 2007, identified through nationwide registers. The second group consisted of 192,918 children born between 1996 and 2009, participating in the Danish National Birth Cohort and the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study, combined in the MOthers and BAbies in Norway and Denmark (MOBAND) collaboration.

Researchers collected data from registers and self-reported information on maternal thyroid disorders, analyzing this information in relation to cerebral palsy diagnoses and its subtypes (unilateral and bilateral spastic CP). Children were followed from one year of age to six years, with CP diagnoses verified through nationwide registers.

Hypothyroidism: Identified in 1.0% of mothers in register data.
Hyperthyroidism: Recognized in 0.8% of mothers in register data.
Unclassifiable Thyroid Disorder: Found in less than 0.1% of mothers in register data.
MOBAND Data: 1.6% of mothers reported a thyroid disorder during pregnancy.

The study found that maternal thyroid disorder overall was not related to bilateral spastic cerebral palsy, but maternal thyroid disorder identified in pregnancy was associated with increased risk of unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Researchers recommend further studies using maternal blood samples to validate these findings.

What's Next? Unpacking the Implications and Future Research

While this study provides valuable insights, it's essential to remember that correlation doesn't equal causation. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship between maternal thyroid disorders and cerebral palsy risk. Future studies should focus on analyzing maternal blood samples to assess thyroid hormone levels directly and explore the underlying mechanisms that might contribute to this association. This research underscores the importance of optimal thyroid management during pregnancy and highlights the need for continued investigation in this critical area of maternal and child health.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the primary focus of the research linking maternal health and child development?

The main focus of the research is to explore the connection between maternal thyroid disorders and the risk of cerebral palsy in children. This investigation specifically looks at how disruptions in thyroid function during pregnancy might affect a child's neurological development, particularly in relation to the development of cerebral palsy. The study examined the association between maternal thyroid disorders and the risk of cerebral palsy in children, and also the subtypes: unilateral and bilateral spastic CP.

What is cerebral palsy and why is this condition significant in this research?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability affecting children, and it impacts their motor skills and coordination. This research is significant because CP's causes are complex and not fully understood. The study investigated the potential link between a mother's health during pregnancy, specifically her thyroid function, and the child's risk of developing CP. Understanding this link could help improve maternal and child health outcomes, and CP diagnoses were verified through nationwide registers.

How did the researchers collect and analyze data on maternal thyroid disorders and cerebral palsy?

The researchers used a population-based cohort study involving two study populations. The first included children born in Denmark between 1979 and 2007, identified through nationwide registers. The second group consisted of children born in the Danish National Birth Cohort and the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study, combined in the MOBAND collaboration. Researchers collected data from registers and self-reported information on maternal thyroid disorders and cerebral palsy diagnoses and its subtypes (unilateral and bilateral spastic CP). They analyzed this information in relation to CP diagnoses, with CP diagnoses verified through nationwide registers.

What were the key findings regarding maternal thyroid disorders and the risk of cerebral palsy?

The study found that overall maternal thyroid disorder was not related to bilateral spastic cerebral palsy. However, maternal thyroid disorder identified during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. The study identified the prevalence of specific thyroid conditions: Hypothyroidism was found in 1.0% of mothers, Hyperthyroidism in 0.8%, and Unclassifiable Thyroid Disorder in less than 0.1% of mothers in the register data. In the MOBAND data, 1.6% of mothers reported a thyroid disorder during pregnancy.

What are the implications of the study's findings, and what future research is recommended?

The study underscores the importance of optimal thyroid management during pregnancy, while also recognizing that correlation does not equal causation. Future research should focus on analyzing maternal blood samples to assess thyroid hormone levels directly to validate these findings. This will help researchers explore the underlying mechanisms that might contribute to the association between maternal thyroid disorders and the risk of cerebral palsy. Furthermore, future studies should explore the subtypes of cerebral palsy to understand their correlation.