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Increasing attention is being paid to the role of the placenta in predicting postnatal health outcomes (see Chapter 5), in particular related to neurodevelopment.¹⁸³ For example, placental inflammatory lesions have been reported to be associated with autism spectrum disorder.^{184, 185} Sex differences in brain volume, cortical thickness, and brain connectivity may arise in fetal development;¹⁸⁶ links between genetic risk factors for schizophrenia and abnormal placental function have been suggested.^{185, 187} It has also been suggested that genes and other factors linked to congenital heart disease may be connected to placental development, either because both share common regulatory pathways or because the dynamics of blood flow from the placenta plays an important role in heart development.¹⁸⁸ Although the mechanisms linking prenatal events to childhood health are largely unknown, it seems plausible that examining molecular profiles and pathogenic markers in the placenta at delivery may be useful in predicting future risks for childhood and adult disease.