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This shows a pregnant woman surrounded by viruses.

·September 24, 2025·6 min read

Severe Flu in Pregnancy Lets Harmful Molecules Reach Fetal Brain

A new study shows that severe flu infections in pregnant mice compromise both placental and brain barriers, allowing large molecules and fibrinogen to reach the fetal brain. These molecules accumulated in critical regions like the subventricular zone, where neural stem cells develop, raising concerns about long-term impacts on neurodevelopment.

This shows a pregnant woman and a brain scan.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 15, 2025·5 min read

Common Infections During Pregnancy Don’t Harm Brain Development

A large Danish study found that common infections during pregnancy, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, do not harm a child’s brain development or cognitive abilities later in life. Researchers analyzed data from over 270,000 children, comparing school exam results and intelligence test scores with records of maternal infections and antibiotic use during pregnancy.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 1, 2025·4 min read

Maternal Inflammation May Disrupt Infant Brain Wiring

A new study reveals that inflammation during pregnancy may impair neurodevelopment in infants by reducing CD11c-positive microglia—key immune cells that support brain myelination. These cells produce IGF-1, a protein critical for forming the myelin sheath that helps nerve signals travel efficiently.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 31, 2025·7 min read

Genetics, Not Maternal Sickness, Drives Autism Risk

A large study analyzing over 1.1 million pregnancies found no strong evidence that maternal health conditions during pregnancy cause autism. Instead, nearly all previously reported associations between maternal diagnoses and autism could be explained by genetic or environmental factors.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 21, 2024·5 min read

Maternal Inflammation May Shape Offspring’s Alzheimer’s Risk

Maternal immune activity during pregnancy influences memory circuitry in offspring, with sex-specific effects extending into midlife. Elevated immune markers like IL-6 and TNF-a in mothers were linked to adverse brain activity in memory regions, particularly in postmenopausal women, and lower cognitive performance in children.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 30, 2024·7 min read

Flu During Pregnancy Linked to Neurodevelopmental Risks

New research shows that severe flu in pregnancy can increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring due to the mother’s immune response. Using live influenza virus in mice, researchers found significant fetal brain changes only when maternal infection reached a certain severity. This study highlights the importance of flu vaccination during pregnancy to reduce risks. It also suggests a threshold of infection severity for fetal brain impact.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 7, 2023·4 min read

Maternal Inflammation Linked to Child Behavioral Dysregulation

Maternal inflammation risk factors may be associated with dysregulation in children, encompassing attention, anxiety, depression, and aggression. Researchers observed that children born to mothers with prenatal infections, or who were overweight, less educated, or smoked during pregnancy, had a higher likelihood of dysregulation.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 22, 2023·4 min read

Inflammation in Womb Disturbs Neuron Maturation, Affects Brain Development

Researchers discovered how inflammation in the womb can disrupt the maturation of nerve cells and impede an unborn baby's brain development. The study reveals that excessive inflammation can lead to reduced neuronal electrical activity, possibly resulting in conditions like cerebral palsy or developmental issues affecting growth, movement, vision, and hearing.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 20, 2022·5 min read

Antidepressant Use and Infection During Pregnancy Linked to Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A combination of antidepression use and infections that lead to inflammation during pregnancy increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism in children, a new study reports.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·September 7, 2022·6 min read

New Knowledge About the Link Between Infection During Pregnancy and Autism

Researchers discovered the link between autism and maternal infection does not appear to be causal. Results suggest the increased autism risks are more likely to be explained by shared familial factors including genetics or aspects of a shared environment.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·September 7, 2022·4 min read

Three Autism Subgroups With Distinct Prenatal Risk Factors

Using large data sets, researchers determined children on the autism spectrum can be broken into three subgroups based upon co-occurring conditions, and those subgroups are associated with different prenatal risk factors. Infections, anti-inflammatory and other complex medications were associated with one group, while joint disorders and immune system problems were associated with another. The third subgroup was associated with overall pregnancy complications. Researchers have developed a new blood test that can for autism and prenatal risk factors for ASD.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 28, 2020·7 min read

Maternal Immune Activation Induces Sustained Changes in Fetal Microglia Motility

Changes in fetal microglia caused as a result of maternal inflammation could contribute to the development of schizophrenia, autism, and other psychiatric or developmental disorders.

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MIA

Severe Flu in Pregnancy Lets Harmful Molecules Reach Fetal Brain

Common Infections During Pregnancy Don’t Harm Brain Development

Maternal Inflammation May Disrupt Infant Brain Wiring

Genetics, Not Maternal Sickness, Drives Autism Risk

Maternal Inflammation May Shape Offspring’s Alzheimer’s Risk

Flu During Pregnancy Linked to Neurodevelopmental Risks

Maternal Inflammation Linked to Child Behavioral Dysregulation

Inflammation in Womb Disturbs Neuron Maturation, Affects Brain Development

Antidepressant Use and Infection During Pregnancy Linked to Neurodevelopmental Disorders

New Knowledge About the Link Between Infection During Pregnancy and Autism

Three Autism Subgroups With Distinct Prenatal Risk Factors

Maternal Immune Activation Induces Sustained Changes in Fetal Microglia Motility

Untreated Sleep Apnea Doubles Parkinson’s Risk

Genes Behind Dog Behaviors Also Shape Human Emotions

Gene Discovery Reveals Hidden Risk Pathway for Delirium

Thought Begins Before We’re Born

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