Some parents are starting ‘N-of-1’ studies for autism, but their efforts don’t always get taken seriously.

Maternal immune activation — caused by infection or even psychological stress during pregnancy — is a strong risk factor for neurological conditions such as autism.

Only a small fraction of women who battle infections during pregnancy have children with autism, suggesting that some infections are riskier than others.

Genetic variants that impair a pathway that prunes neuronal connections may offer clues to autism.

The presence of antibodies against a wheat protein may indicate that a child with autism would benefit from a gluten-free diet — but little data support this theory.

Rare antibodies associated with autism are unusually common among women who developed diabetes while pregnant with a child who has autism.

Molecules that protect the body from infection may be needed for mice to socialize with their peers, a finding that bolsters the link between the immune system and autism.

Infection during pregnancy may blunt the growth of neurons in the fetus by boosting levels of the chemical messenger serotonin.

A standard mouse strain used by researchers worldwide harbors an unintended mutation that impairs immune cell development — and may confound results.

Pregnant women with elevated levels of certain immune molecules are at increased risk of having a child with both autism and intellectual disability.