New Treatments for Autism

Autism is a mystery to the medical field. However, we are making some advances in trying to figure it out and how to treat it. A new study published in Nature by the Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center shows some promising hope.  There may be a chance that normal brain function can be restored in people with autism.  Autism causes all kinds of cognitive delays. The direct cause of autism is still unknown; however, scientists are aware that KCTD13, which is a gene, is related to autism.

In the study, KCTD13 was deleted in mice. The results were an overgrowth in the brain which caused a reduction in synaptic connections. This was due to the RhoA protein which increased and collected in the absence of the KCTD13 gene.  When scientists used drugs that decreased the levels of RhoA, they noticed that within four hours, the brain was restored to normal functioning.

This may be promising for humans with autism.  Autism may be totally removed from individuals or the condition may be improved to the point where a person with autism can function normally.   



Source:

doi:10.1038/nature24470

http://neurosciencenews.com/autism-brain-connections-7853/