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The first autism disease genes
July 09, 2008The autistic disorder, a neurodevelopmental disease first described in 1943, represents a challenge for treatment and a puzzle for research. Alongside Asperger syndrome, a milder form of the disorder, autism is classified in the continuum of various Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), all of which are characterized by deficits in language, social interaction, and a strangely restricted and repetitive behaviour (stereotypy). Disease onset occurs during the first three years of life. The earlier the disorder is diagnosed, the sooner the child can be helped through treatment interventions, but unfortunately detection is often delayed. In a vast majority of cases, no disease causes can be identified.
Recent advances in autism research have been fuelled by an increased interest in genetics, and the latest developments point to genetic factors playing a prominent role in the causes of ASD.
Professor Marion Leboyer of the Psychiatry Genetic Team INSERM and director of the specialized French research foundation for psychiatric disorders, Fondation FondaMental, Paris, will present the compelling neurobiological story of discovering the first autism genes. Thereby she will highlight new findings on the role of gene mutations, their association with synapse abnormalities, and - surprisingly - a connection between circadian rhythms and autism risk. These insights will nurture applied projects on the development of new therapeutic strategies.
European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Autism Current Events and Autism News RSSStudy shows California's autism increase not due to better counting, diagnosis
A study by researchers at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute has found that the seven- to eight-fold increase in the number children born in California with autism since 1990 cannot be explained by either changes in how the condition is diagnosed or counted - and the trend shows no sign of abating.
Hormone important in recognizing familiar faces
Oxytocin, a hormone involved in child-birth and breast-feeding, helps people recognize familiar faces, according to new research in the January 7 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
Promising new drug being evaluated as possible treatment option for fragile X syndrome
A pilot trial of an oral drug therapy called fenobam has shown promising initial results and could be a potential new treatment option for adult patients with Fragile X syndrome (FXS).
Motor nerve targeting to limb muscles is controlled by ephrin proteins
A study from a team of researchers including Dr. Artur Kania, Director of the Neural Circuit Development Research Unit at the IRCM, and Dr. Dayana Krawchuk, postdoctoral fellow, shows how a family of proteins present in the developing limb control nerve targeting from the spinal cord to the muscles of the limb.
How mirror neurons allow us to learn and socialize by going through the motions in the head
The old adage that we can only learn how to do something by trying it ourselves may have to be revised in the light of recent discoveries in neuroscience.
Researchers compile 'molecular manual' for 100s of inherited diseases
An international research team has compiled the first catalogue of tissue-specific pathologies underlying hundreds of inherited diseases.
Rare disease provides clues about enzyme role in arrhythmias
A University of Iowa study provides insight into a calcium-sensing enzyme already known to play a role in irregular heartbeats and other critical functions.
When it's more than the 'terrible twos'
We all know how infants can act up during their terrible twos, but when these behaviors are accompanied by developmental setbacks, they could point to something more serious.
Parents be aware this holiday season: Magnets in children's toys pose significant health risk
While the danger of magnets for children is increasingly recognized, they don't receive treatment for swallowing them as quickly as needed, and parents don't receive sufficient warning on toys, according to a new study.
Rice University study finds possible clues to epilepsy, autism
Rice University researchers have found a potential clue to the roots of epilepsy, autism, schizophrenia and other neurological disorders.
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