New Thinking on Neurodevelopment.

Rising diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders are leading scientists to take a harder look at environmental exposures in utero and during childhood that may be at least partly to blame for the rise. A number of agents, including metals, man-made chemicals, immunotoxicants, and infectious pathogens, have been implicated in neurodevelopmental effects; some researchers are also looking at the possible role of gene-environment interactions. Federal support for work in this sphere is increasing, and an expert working group recently formulated a set of best practices for studying neurodevelopmental outcomes. Challenges remain in educating the public and clinicians alike about the links between environmental insults and these disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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