Environment

The mutations that men accumulate in their sperm as they age don’t account for most of their increased risk of having a child with autism.

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

A class of fungicides used on crops can produce changes in mouse brain cells that look similar to those seen in people with autism.

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.

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.

The combination of obesity and diabetes in a pregnant woman substantially increases the likelihood that her child will have autism.