Autism is a condition that begins early in life and affects how a person communicates, behaves, and interacts with others. It’s something people are born with, and it tends to be more common in boys.
Today, about 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with autism. While there is no single cause of autism, scientists are working hard to understand how the brain develops differently in people with this condition.
Our brains are made up of billions of tiny cells called neurons, or brain cells. These cells “talk” to each other through small links known as synapses. Think of synapses like bridges that connect the cells and allow messages to pass from one to another.
When babies are born, their brains start building many of these connections very quickly. This process helps the brain grow and learn.
But what happens if the brain doesn’t form enough of these connections, or if they don’t work properly? Some scientists believe that this might be one reason why autism develops.
A research team led by Peter Penzes at Northwestern University recently looked into this question. They focused on a specific gene called ANK3, which plays an important role in brain development.
This gene produces a protein known as ankyrin-G, which helps brain cells form dendrites. Dendrites are like little arms that reach out from one brain cell to connect with others. The more connections that form, the better the brain can process and share information.
However, the researchers found that ankyrin-G can’t do its job alone. It needs help from another protein, which comes from a gene called Usp9X. Usp9X works like a helper or protector. It keeps ankyrin-G stable and prevents it from breaking down. When the two proteins work well together, brain cells build many strong connections.
But if Usp9X doesn’t work properly, ankyrin-G begins to disappear. This can happen shortly after birth, during a critical time in brain development. Without enough ankyrin-G, the brain cells can’t form enough synapses. The result? Weaker communication between cells, which could lead to problems with learning, behavior, and social interaction.
To see how this might affect real behavior, the scientists studied mice that had issues with the Usp9X gene. These mice had fewer synapses in their brains, and they behaved differently compared to healthy mice. The researchers believe these brain cell changes could be similar to what happens in some people with autism.
This study suggests that problems with the Usp9X gene might be one possible cause of autism. While this doesn’t explain every case of autism, it gives scientists an important clue about how the brain forms and how things can go wrong during early development.
The research team says more work is needed to fully understand these findings and to explore whether this knowledge can lead to better ways to detect or treat autism in the future.
This study was published in the journal Neuron and represents a step forward in the search to understand the biological roots of autism. It shows how even tiny changes in the way brain cells connect can have a big impact on how we think, feel, and relate to the world around us.
If you care about autism, please read studies that cats may help decrease anxiety for kids with autism and new study may develop better treatment for autism
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how to eat your way to a healthy brain, and results showing this type of food may contribute to autism.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
