A gene therapy that compensates for a missing copy of SYNGAP1, a gene strongly associated with autism, diminishes hyperactivity and brain activity linked to epilepsy, according to a new study in mice. The therapy also normalizes brain-wave patterns linked to learning, memory, attention and sensory processing. “This is the first published study to use a […]
Autism has long been seen as a single—if highly heterogeneous—condition. But rather than one continuous spectrum, there are distinct autism subtypes, each tied to its own genetic signature, a new study suggests. The research, published 9 July in the journal Nature Genetics, connects genetic differences to specific patterns in how autism traits appear, supporting the […]
Low genetic diversity across a person’s genome predisposes those with PTEN variants to neurodevelopmental conditions, a new study suggests. The findings may explain why people carrying the same PTEN variant often experience different clinical outcomes. Among people with neurodevelopmental conditions and PTEN variants, increased homozygosity—which occurs when a person carries the same variant in both […]
Non-parallel lines: Although clinical diagnoses of autism have risen over time, levels of autism traits among teenagers have held steady, according to a new population-based study in Sweden. The results support the idea that the well-documented increases in autism prevalence stem from factors such as a broadening of diagnostic criteria and heightened public awareness. The […]
Sex differences: Male model mice raised in enriched environments had less severe behavioral problems than their female peers. Photography by Richard Drury Angelman syndrome model mice have fewer-than-expected behavioral and motor problems if they grow up in a stimulating enclosure, filled with toys and other enrichments, according to a new study. The mice are missing […]
Lack of isolation: Mutations in the MYT1L gene deactivate a transcription factor that is important for myelin-forming cells that coat nerve fibers. Biophoto Associates / Science Source A variety of traits, including developmental delay and intellectual disability, characterize people with mutations in the autism-related MYT1L gene, according to a new study. The gene encodes a […]
It’s one thing to have a general understanding of ADHD, but it’s quite another to witness the unique and peculiar way your child’s symptoms manifest themselves. When I think back on what it was like to raise my son, who is now a teenager, these experiences stand out as the “soft signs” of ADHD. Does […]
Biomarker Bias: Brainwave patterns in autistic boys, but not autistic girls, appear to correlate with traits. Engagementstock / Shutterstock Autistic children show a distinct pattern of resting brain activity, and how that pattern relates to behavior differs between autistic boys and girls, according to a new study. Previous analysis suggests that characteristics of autism differ […]
If repeated: Deletions of ASH1L cause excessive grooming in mice, which treatment with the cancer drug vorinostat is alleviated. Mark Bowler / Science Source A cancer drug that boosts gene expression reduces repetitive behaviors and improves memory and sociability in a mouse model of autism, according to a new study. However, the treatment did not […]
Early days: Researchers say preventive autism intervention has strong benefits, but some question the data. Tatsiana Volkava / iStock This week’s headlines hailed behavioral therapy parents can offer their babies to reduce the intensity of children’s autism characteristics and reduce their chances of being diagnosed by the age of 3, but independent experts urge caution: […]
My oh myelin: In a new mouse model of autism, the males have an unusually thick myelin in the cerebellum, which correlates with more intense autism-like features. Male mice exposed to atypically low levels of a placental hormone in the womb have altered brain development and anti-social behavior, according to a new study. The results […]
Neurons are forever trapped in a dance, adjusting their signals to keep up with new information. When the cells change their speed, they have to maintain a delicate balance: if they increase the excitatory signals too much, it can lead to seizures; too much inhibition can lead to depressive or catatonic states. Neurons achieve this […]
