A boost in the levels of MeCP2, the gene implicated in Rett syndrome, makes mice more susceptible to seizures and subtly alters their neurons, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

There is a 90 percent chance that people who have filed two or more autism-related insurance claims have an autism diagnosis, says a study published 5 June in Autism.

Studying regression in Rett syndrome may help us understand the phenomenon in autism, as it occurs at the same time in both disorders and includes many of the same features, says Jeffrey Neul.
 

The discovery of microRNAs that regulate gene expression has changed our view of cellular biochemistry. It may also change our perception of neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, says Peng Jin.

We check in with the community about building more efficient bridges between families affected by autism and the scientists seeking its cure.

Most parents educate themselves as much as possible when their child is diagnosed with a disorder. A handful of others — in many cases, mothers — have devoted their professional lives to research on autism-related disorders.

Defects in cholesterol metabolism may influence the severity of Rett syndrome, suggesting a treatment for the autism-related disorder, according to research presented Thursday at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastián, Spain.

A single gene mutation leads to Rett syndrome, but other variants may modify the severity of an individual’s symptoms, according to a study published 28 February in PLoS One.

The onset of Rett syndrome, which is marked by the sudden loss of speech and motor skills, is more gradual than previously believed, according to two studies published in the past few months.

MeCP2, the gene that is mutated in Rett syndrome, may regulate a different set of genes in brain cells called astrocytes than in neurons, according to a study published 25 January in Molecular Autism.