Prenatal exposures can influence childhood neurodevelopment, and placental histopathology may help identify factors associated with subsequent developmental impairment. However, placental findings have often been studied in the context of prematurity or fetal growth restriction, while some children born at term may still have abnormal neurodevelopment. A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology investigated whether placental histopathology was associated with a high-risk screen for abnormal early childhood neurodevelopment following term birth.

Among 7,353 children assessed at participating sites, 486 were born at term and met the additional eligibility criteria. A high-risk composite Ages & Stages Questionnaire-Third Edition screen was present in 26% of children. Placental exposures included chronic placental inflammation, maternal or fetal acute inflammatory…