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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: glutamate

September 2018
Artwork shows a flock of birds flying inside the head of a boy.

How a ‘pacemaker’ for the brain could ease autism traits

by  /  4 September 2018

Looking at the brain as a whole suggests that nudging flawed sets of neurons to collaborate better might alleviate autism traits.

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July 2018
A whimsical illustration shows scientists as flowers, being 'watered' by Euros, which is also filtering down into a system of lab objects and medicines.

Record-breaking grant may fuel autism drug development

by  /  19 July 2018

A huge new research collaboration may jump-start the race to develop therapies for autism.

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February 2018
colorful hands marking a path

Twist on gene-editing tool may speed studies of gene function

by  /  21 February 2018

Researchers have repurposed the gene-editing tool CRISPR to dial down a gene’s activity in select subtypes of neurons in mice.

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January 2018
Mice lacking one copy of MEF2C have fewer neurons (red and green, right) in the hippocampus than controls do (left).

Modified Alzheimer’s drug may treat some forms of autism

by  /  18 January 2018

A fusion of two existing drugs alleviates autism-like features in a mouse model of the condition.

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November 2017
Mapping the connections between brain regions in mice can reveal which ones are strengthened by a drug.

Mouse imaging study hints at how fragile X drug trial went wrong

by  /  15 November 2017

The drug mavoglurant has no effect on a brain circuit involved in social behavior in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. That may explain its poor performance in people with the condition.

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Mice that lack UBE3A only in their inhibitory neurons are particularly susceptible to seizures.

Gene therapy technique prevents seizures in Angelman mice

by  /  12 November 2017

Introducing the gene UBE3A into neurons that dampen brain activity prevents seizures in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome.

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September 2017
Week of SeptemberSep
18th
2017

Genetic hotspot; big brain collaboration; funding fall and more

by  /  22 September 2017

A gene called TRIO may be a hotbed for autism mutations, an international collaboration focuses on the whole brain and one behavior, and Autism Speaks cuts grant spending.

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August 2017
Week of AugustAug
7th
2017

Off-key outcomes; visualizing variants; urine indifference and more

by  /  11 August 2017

Music therapy proves ineffective for autism, brain structures differ with 16p11.2 duplications and deletions, and mice missing NLGN3 may influence the sociability of their littermates.

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July 2017

Drug that shifts brain’s signaling balance could treat autism

by  /  20 July 2017

A drug that alters the balance of two key chemical messengers in the brain may help treat autism, suggests a proof-of-principle study.

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May 2017

Brain’s reward region may drive social problems in autism

by  /  17 May 2017

Having too many copies of an autism gene called UBE3A mutes a brain region that may mediate the satisfaction a person derives from social interactions.

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