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.

Social interactions shape the bustling communities of gut bacteria in chimpanzees.

An unusual mix of bacteria may be to blame for the frequent gut problems in people with autism. New findings suggest they may also alter the mind.

Scientists can rattle off lists of dozens of genes linked to autism, but there’s much less agreement about which elements of the environment contribute to the condition — and by how much.

Early disruption of the microbes that inhabit the gut can alter a mouse’s sociability long term.

The combination of prenatal stress and a preterm labor drug may elicit seizures and autism-like behaviors in rat pups.