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

Autism is four times more prevalent among extremely premature babies than in the general population.

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

The media offers clarity on prenatal folate levels and autism, early-career women scientists make less than their male counterparts, and states grapple with what to do with babies’ blood.

Triggering immune defenses in pregnant mice leads to autism-like behaviors not only in their pups, but also in the following generations.

Genetics giant Craig Venter wants to sequence 2 million genomes, CRISPR pioneer Emmanuelle Charpentier just wants to work, and the online building game Minecraft helps people with autism socialize.

Bacterial fragments can cross the placenta of a pregnant mouse into the brains of her developing pups, leading to a surplus of neurons in the pups.

A new test claims to assess a child’s risk of autism based on abnormal folds in the placenta, but there is little evidence to support its use.

Studies link taking antidepressants, acetaminophen and some asthma drugs during pregnancy to autism risk, but the dangers of going off them may outweigh the risks.

For some pregnant women, taking the supplement carnitine may lower the risk of having a child with autism.