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Spectrum: Autism Research News

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Treatments

Efforts to ease the symptoms of autism are beginning to ramp up, with promising candidates in various stages of testing.

May 2013

Light toggles function of signaling proteins

by  /  1 May 2013

Researchers can use light to activate certain proteins that receive signals at the junctions between neurons and that are key targets for fragile X syndrome therapies, according to a study published in the April issue of Nature Neuroscience.

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April 2013

Genetics: Gene variants modulate Rett symptoms

by  /  30 April 2013

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.

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Angelman syndrome drug shows promise in mouse study

by  /  29 April 2013

Two weeks of treatment with a cancer drug called topotecan boosts expression for a year of the gene that’s deficient in Angelman syndrome, according to unpublished mouse research presented 20 March at the New York Academy of Sciences.

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Infant therapy

by  /  26 April 2013

An intervention designed to help infants at high risk for autism also improves interactions between parents and their children, says a study published 27 March in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

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Studies show promise for fragile X treatment

by  /  25 April 2013

Researchers have added two new candidates to the arsenal of compounds that alleviate both the behavioral and molecular hallmarks of fragile X syndrome in mice that model the disorder. A third candidate, minocycline, improves some symptoms in children with the disorder.

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Research image of two mice cerebellums.

Drug linked to mitochondria treats mouse model of autism

by  /  15 April 2013

A century-old drug created to treat African sleeping sickness reverses several autism-like features in a mouse model of the disorder, according to a study published 13 March in PLoS ONE.

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Clinical research: Rett symptoms emerge early, gradually

by  /  12 April 2013

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.

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Molecular mechanisms: Rats could model autism gender bias

by  /  9 April 2013

Prenatal exposure of rats to the epilepsy drug valproic acid leads to behavioral and brain features that resemble autism, in males more than in females, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry.

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March 2013

Clinical research: Risperidone boosts milk hormone

by  /  29 March 2013

Long-term treatment with risperidone — an antipsychotic approved to treat autism — may boost levels of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates milk production, according to a study published in December in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Risperidone use may also affect sexual function and lead to enlarged breasts in males, the study found.

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Promise and pitfalls of induced stem cells for autism

by ,  /  26 March 2013

Induced pluripotent stem cells, which have the ability to become any cell type, including neurons, offer a powerful way to study neuropsychiatric disorders. But for this approach to reach its full potential, researchers must first address several challenges, such as variability between cell lines, say Flora Vaccarino and Jessica Mariani.

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