Women who receive epidural anesthesia during labor have an elevated chance of having a child with autism, a new study has found. But it is too soon for doctors to recommend against epidurals, experts say.

Extremely preterm babies later diagnosed with autism tend to show steep declines in development, a pattern that could flag them for intervention as early as 6 months of age.

Women who use marijuana while pregnant may be more likely to give birth to an autistic child. But investigators call for a cautious interpretation of the results.

Like so many other events this year, autism’s biggest annual conference — the International Society for Autism Research meeting — was forced to go virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic.

High blood pressure during pregnancy may raise a woman’s chances of having an autistic child.

Autistic mothers report having more anxiety and depression than neurotypical mothers do.

Multiple independent studies are revealing evidence suggesting that sex steroids are important in autism.

Pregnant women’s use of acetaminophen may increase the odds of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in their children.

Children born with high blood levels of vitamin D have 25 percent decreased odds of autism compared with those born with low levels.

Children who are born with mild heart problems are more likely to be autistic than their typical peers are.