In a new study from Lancaster University, researchers found drugs to increase insulin signaling may be effective for treating autism.
They discovered how a genetic change impacts insulin signaling and blood sugar metabolism in the brain.
In the human genome, small sections of DNA have been found to be duplicated or deleted in some people.
Some of these genetic changes cause neurodevelopmental problems and dramatically increase someone’s risk of developing disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
For example, people with a DNA deletion at chromosome 2p16.3, which results in deletion of the Neurexin1 gene, commonly experience neurodevelopmental delay and cognitive problems.
People with the 2p16.3 deletion are also around 14 to 20 times more likely to develop neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, schizophrenia and Tourette’s syndrome.
There are an estimated two to three million people worldwide who have this type of DNA deletion but there are currently no effective drug treatments for their resulting cognitive problems.
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that Neurexin1 gene deletion reduces glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex, a key brain region involved in higher-level cognitive functions including cognitive flexibility and paying attention.
The research gives valuable new insight into how this leads to cognitive deficits, behavioral changes and dramatically increases the risk of developing a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.
The key finding that Neurexin1 deletion impacts insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex suggest that using drugs to increase insulin signaling may be an effective treatment.
If you care about autism risk, please read studies about pregnancy symptom linked to a much higher autism risk in child, and cats may help decrease anxiety for kids with autism.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about vitamin D that may hold the clue to more autism in boys, and results showing this thing can protect children from severe COVID-19.
The study is published in Autism Research and was conducted by Dr. Neil Dawson et al.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
