Environment

Triggering an immune defense in newborn male mice missing a copy of TSC2, a gene linked to autism, impairs the mice’s social memory.

Chronic exposure to inflammation in the womb alters autism gene expression and disrupts social behavior in male mice, but not females.

Autism results from an interplay between genetics and the environment, but it has been tough to nail down the environmental factors involved.

Rats exposed prenatally to a cocktail of ‘autoimmune’ molecules have altered levels of two types of compounds needed for brain development.

Fever in pregnant rats around the time of delivery disrupts their pups’ communication and social behavior.

A specially made ‘decoy’ protein prevents an immune molecule from crossing the placenta; the strategy may prevent the brain changes that lead to autism.

Autism is more heritable than anorexia, alcohol dependence, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to an analysis of data from nearly 4.5 million people.

Traits linked to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tend to co-occur even in adulthood.