Tag: Autism
-
Similar epigenetic mark found in brain cells of different types of autism disorder
UCLA scientists and their colleagues have found evidence that an abnormal pattern of brain cells is common in people with different types of autism disorders. The abnormal pattern discovered in the study, reported in journal Cell, concerns a certain type of “epigenetic mark,” a chemical modification that occurs frequently on chromosomes and helps regulate the…
-
Similar brain molecular signatures found in people with autism spectrum disorder
Autism spectrum disorder is caused by a variety of factors, both genetic and environmental. But a new study led by UCLA scientists provides further evidence that the brains of people with the disorder tend to have the same “signature” of abnormalities at the molecular level. The scientists analyzed 251 brain tissue samples from nearly 100…
-
New technique called Automated Fiber Quantification to help understand brain changes in Autism Spectrum disorder
A new study found significant changes in white matter pathways in the brains of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a novel technique called Automated Fiber Quantification (AFQ). Evidence of both increases and decreases in diffusion across white matter tracts and the relationship of these changes to patient age are reported in journal Brain…
-
Research shows genetic link between autism spectrum disorder and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
Cornell University researchers have confirmed a genetic link between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is passed on from the mother, and some forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous research suggested a link between mitochondrial functional defects and autism spectrum disorder, but those studies included small sample sizes and could not verify whether the cause was…
-
Scientists link single gene mutation of NF1 to some cases of autism spectrum disorder
Scientists have linked mutations in a single gene to autism in people who have a rare tumor syndrome typically diagnosed in childhood. The findings, in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), may lead to a better understanding of the genetic roots of autism in the wider population. The findings are published Oct. 19 in the…
-
Research finds differences in obesity rates between children/teens with and without autism
Children and teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be more likely to be obese and stay obese during adolescence than their peers without ASD, according to a new epidemiological study led by researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine and published online in Childhood Obesity in advance of print. Previous studies have found that…
-
Researchers found unique genetic basis in autism genes that may lead to earlier diagnosis
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers are a step closer to understanding the genetic basis of autism, which they hope will lead to earlier diagnosis of what is rapidly becoming the most prevalent developmental disorder worldwide. In the study published in Behavior Genetics, the researchers examined the sequences of more than 650 genes associated…
-
New Mouse Model used find potential drug target for Autism
(Philadelphia) A study of a new mouse model identifies a drug target that has the potential to increase social interaction in individuals with some forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The team published their work in Biological Psychiatry. Although medications are…
Medical News Observer 