Preterm autism spectrum disorder risk linked to changes in cerebellar white matter

A study in experimental models suggests that allopregnanolone, one of many hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy, is so essential to normal fetal brain development that when provision of that hormone decreases - as occurs with premature birth - offspring are more likely to develop autism-like behaviors. Lead study author Claire-Marie Vacher, Ph.D., explains the work of the Neonatology and Neonatal Neurology and Neonatal Neurocritical Care teams at Children's National.