A study has shown that mice without the Shank3 gene avoid interaction and have repetitive behavior. Scientists have also found that about one percent of people with autism lack the Shank3 gene. The research team was able to reverse some of the autistic behaviors in adult mice by turning on Shank3 gene. These findings suggest that autism symptoms could also be reduced in people by using a similar approach.
Mail Online reports that researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have announced a major breakthrough in treating the genetic cause of the autism disorders. They report that by switching on a single gene is it possible to reverse changes to the brain in mice with the condition. Even after it is fully developed, the brain may be capable of make and break connections and adapting to genetic changes.The study has been published in the journal Nature.
Professor Guoping Feng, a neuroscientist at MIT who led the study, declared for MIT News that the findings of the study suggest that the even the adult brain has to some degree some profound plasticity. Some of the brain defects are reversible and scientists have hopes that in the future it will be possible to develop treatment for autism.
The gene called Shank3 produces a protein with role in organizing other cells in the brain and helping brain cells communicate with each other. In order to perform their research, scientists at MIT bred mice which lacked the gene Shank3 during their development. This changed the way their brains were wired and led to behavioral changes such as repetitive behaviors and less interactions with other mice.
When the MIT research team has switched back on the Shank3 gene in the adult mice, this also reversed many of the autistic symptoms. Mice showed less repetitive grooming behavior and started to interact more with other mates. They were still showing some issues with motor skills, anxiety and some of the behaviors remained. However, when the Shank3 gene was turned on earlier even the rest of issues were found to improve.
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