SchaferAutismReport: Researchers Develop Promising Drug to Treat Autism Behaviors

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RESEARCH

Researchers Develop Promising Drug to Treat Autism Behaviors

By Berman voanews.com

Photo: MuYang, J.

Crawley, NIMH Mouse pays a social visit to a novel

animal.

Scientists say they have used an

experimental compound to reverse two autism-like behaviors in

mice. Experts say there's no guarantee the drug would work to

help children with autism, a neural developmental brain disorder marked

by communication and social impairments beginning in early childhood.

But they say it's a step in the right direction.

Researchers with the U.S. National

Institute of Mental Health and the Pfizer pharmaceutical company tested

the drug called GRN-529 in mice that normally display autistic-like

activities - in particular, social isolation and repetitive

behaviors. NIMH co-investigator Jill Silverman says that after

being injected with the experimental compound, the mice reduced two of

their repetitive behaviors - obsessive grooming and jumping - and the

normally asocial rodents engaged more with other mice.

Researchers say the experimental

compound dampens the activity of the brain chemical glutamate by

modifying one of its chemical receptors. That could target a number of

autistic behaviors linked to a defect in connections between brain

cells or neurons.

But they don't know for sure. Silverman

says the biochemical mechanism of GRN-529 is not completely understood,

though she's not surprised that adjusting the biological activity of

glutamate, which helps stimulate neurons throughout the brain, might

reverse some of autism's core symptoms.

"It's crucially involved in every

connection in the brain, basically," said Silverman. "So, modulating

its effects by acting at one receptor seems to be a very promising

target."

Ring was involved in the GRN-529

study

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RESEARCH

Researchers Develop Promising Drug to Treat Autism Behaviors

Smoking during Pregnancy May Increase Autism Risk in Children

Being Left out Puts Youths With Special Needs at Risk for Depression

PCBs May Increase Autism Risk

EDUCATION

Charter School Would Serve Autistic Students

PEOPLE

Dive Teams Search For Missing 7-year-old Fort Gordon Girl

Father Secretly Videotapes Teachers Verbally Abusing His Autistic Son

“Ethan W and Piano Man†Video Goes Viral (Video)

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