Maher GM, O'Keeffe GW, Dalman C, et al. - The association between preeclampsia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was investigated via performing a population-based cohort study. From Swedish National Registers, researchers performed inclusion of 2,842,230 singleton live births in Sweden from 1982 to 2010. Of these, 54,071 cases were of ASD. The analysis revealed an association of exposure to preeclampsia or preeclampsia/small for gestational age (SGA) (ie SGA baby exposed to preeclampsia) with ASD. They identified a stronger association with preeclampsia/SGA than preeclampsia alone. This indicates that placental pathology may be a mechanism for the heightened probability of ASD.