Researchers report a link between autism and folic acid intake during pregnancy, but the link may be weak.

Risk of autism may be increased by untreated fevers during pregnancy.  A recent study found that mothers who had a fever during pregnancy had increased risk of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ).

As the search continues for environmental factors that may contribute to the increasing autism cases, researchers are looking in every nook and cranny for possible associations.

Being born early or late already carries some health risks for both mothers and their newborns. Now there's evidence an early or late birth can worsen symptoms of children with autism.

The exact causes of autism are still not known, and much of how the disorder develops remain a mystery. Many studies point to prenatal development links.