Placental alterations related to neurodevelopmental and associated disorders.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are conditions that are triggered during neurodevelopment in embryonic life and persist in postnatal life, leading to behavioral impairments. Despite the rising prevalence and extensive research, the mechanism behind the etiology of both disorders is not completely known. This narrative review explores the intricate interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors within the placenta, a pivotal transient organ crucial for fetal sustenance, and its role in the bidirectional passage of nutrients, gases, waste, hormones, and inflammatory mediators between the mother and fetus. We present a comprehensive overview of placental alterations associated with the diagnosis of NDDs (ASD and ADHD) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Through this review, potential molecular targets emerged like epigenetic markers for ASD, immune alterations for ADHD, and altered gene expression for FASD, highlighting specific roles of the placenta in different contexts of NDDs.