James' World 2

Researchers looking for simple ways to treat autism say they may have explained why at least some cases occur: It all has to do with the stress babies undergo at birth.

They’re already testing a simple drug for treating kids with autism and say their findings may point to ways to treat the disorder earlier in life.

 It’s all experimental, but the study, published in the journal Science, should inspire other researchers to take a closer look. “This is exciting stuff to people in the field, because it’s getting at a basic mechanism,” says Andrew Zimmerman of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who reviewed the study.