Study builds argument that infections may cause autism

The findings, published in the journal mSphere, add to evidence that inflammation during pregnancy may affect the brain of a developing fetus.

“We believe the mother’s immune response to HSV-2 (herpes simplex type 2) could be disrupting fetal central nervous system development, raising risk for autism,” said Milada Mahic, a researcher at Columbia University who led the research team.

Viruses can infect a developing baby’s brain — Zika is the most notorious now, but cytomegalovirus and rubella also cause severe birth defects, including brain damage.