Patients with autism may carry a mutation that prevents one of their ubiquitin genes from working properly. These genes, called ubiquitin ligases, function like a work order, telling the rest of the cell how to deal with the tagged proteins: This one should be discarded, that one should be rerouted to another part of the cell, a third needs to have its activity dialed up or down. It is characterized by social and communication challenges.Īmong the many genes linked to autism in people are six genes that attach a molecular tag, called ubiquitin, to proteins.
An increased number of synapses creates miscommunication among neurons in the developing brain that correlates with impairments in learning, although we don’t know how.”Ī multifaceted approach aims to detect, treat and even reverse the disorderĪutism is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting about one out of every 68 children. “You might think that having more synapses would make the brain work better, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. “This study raises the possibility that there may be too many synapses in the brains of patients with autism,” said senior author Azad Bonni, MD, PhD, the Edison Professor of Neuroscience and head of the Department of Neuroscience at Washington University School of Medicine in St. 2 in Nature Communications, suggest that some of the diverse symptoms of autism may stem from a malfunction in communication among cells in the brain.
Rodents that lack the gene form too many connections between brain neurons and have difficulty learning. The findings suggest that malfunctions in communication between brain cells could be at the root of autism.Ī defective gene linked to autism influences how neurons connect and communicate with each other in the brain, according to a study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Mutations in a gene linked to autism in people causes neurons to form too many connections in rodents. Learning, social issues may reflect neuronal miscommunication News Release In autism, too many brain connections may be at root of condition
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