Autism spectrum disorder, like many developmental and degenerative brain disorders, has multifactorial causes. But researchers are focusing particularly on damage that occurs late in pregnancy during the third trimester; that is when the fetal cerebellum develops, which is the region of the brain that is known to be tied to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Abbott Laboratories' High-Sensitive Troponin-I blood test was the first to be given a CE mark in Europe last fall for the prediction of heart disease risk when used alongside other assessments. Now, a prospective, epidemiologic U.S. study has shown that the test can be used to identify adults at risk of a cardiac event even independent of other heart disease risk factors.