Recent work has found that the expression of placental HSD11B2 mRNA is decreased in anxious pregnant women [46]; since increased fetal exposure to cortisol has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders later in life [30], it is possible that reduced placental HSD11B2 activity provides a link between altered placental function and fetal programming [47]. The gene discussed is HSD11B2; the disease is neurodevelopmental disorder.