Researchers have reversed autism symptoms in mice

[shannah]

Behavioural symptoms disappeared, even in adults.
FIONA MACDONALD
19 FEB 2016

Researchers have figured out how to reverse the symptoms of autism in mice, simply by turning on a gene like a light switch. Although the technique is a long way off being trialled in humans, the results provide hope that a similar approach could eliminate some of the most frustrating symptoms for people with autism, regardless of their age.
The scientists engineered mice to be born without a gene called Shank3 - which is missing in 1 percent of autism patients. They showed that by turning the gene back on, they could stop many symptoms associated with autism, such as the avoidance of social interaction and compulsive and repetitive behaviour. The most exciting part is that the technique worked in adults as well as juveniles, which shows that the brain can fix itself, even into adulthood.

More at:

http://www.sciencealert.com/researc...symptoms-in-mice-by-flipping-a-genetic-switch

 

[Simon]

Wow

Shank3 codes for a protein that works in the synapses between brain cells, and is crucial to how they communicate with each other properly. When Feng and this team engineered mice without Shank3, they found that the brain cells of the mice didn't grow properly, particularly in a region known as the striatum, which is involved in the brain's reward system.

These mice also showed characteristic behaviours found in autism spectrum disorders, such as anxiety, compulsive repetition of tasks, and social avoidance.

But once the team switched this gene back on in mice aged between two and 4.5 months (well into adulthood in mouse years) they saw some of those behaviours dramatically reverse - the mice started to interact with each other more, and showed less repetitive grooming. The scientists were able to switch the gene on simply by giving mice the breast cancer drug tamoxifen.

Of course:

the technique is a long way off being trialled in humans

Full article Researchers have reversed autism symptoms in mice - ScienceAlert