Autism is a condition that starts very early in life and affects how a person speaks, behaves, learns, and connects with others. People with autism are born with it, and it stays with them throughout life. It is more often diagnosed in boys than in girls.
Today, autism is common, with many families around the world caring for children on the autism spectrum. Although doctors can identify the condition, scientists are still trying to understand exactly why it happens and how the brain develops differently.
The human brain is made of billions of tiny cells called neurons, also known as brain cells. These cells send messages to each other through very small contact points called synapses. You can imagine synapses as tiny bridges that allow information to travel from one brain cell to another. These connections are what allow us to think, feel, remember, speak, and move.
In the first years of life, a baby’s brain grows extremely fast. During this time, the brain builds huge numbers of synapses. This process helps children learn language, recognize faces, develop emotions, and understand the world around them.
Scientists believe that if these connections do not form correctly or if too few are built, brain communication may not work as it should. This may be one of the reasons autism develops in some children.
A group of researchers led by Peter Penzes at Northwestern University studied this question by looking closely at a gene called ANK3. Genes carry instructions that tell the body how to grow and function. The ANK3 gene produces a protein called ankyrin-G, which plays an important role in building connections between brain cells.
Ankyrin-G helps brain cells grow branch-like parts called dendrites. These dendrites stretch out like tiny arms so that one brain cell can connect with many others.
The more dendrites and connections a brain cell has, the better messages can move through the brain. Strong communication between brain cells is essential for learning, social interaction, and behavior.
The researchers discovered that ankyrin-G cannot work properly on its own. It needs support from another protein made by a different gene called Usp9X. This second protein acts like a helper that protects ankyrin-G and keeps it from breaking apart. When both proteins work together, brain cells form healthy connections during early development.
However, if the Usp9X gene does not work as it should, ankyrin-G levels drop. This problem can happen soon after birth, which is a very important time for brain growth. Without enough ankyrin-G, brain cells cannot build enough synapses.
As a result, the communication between cells becomes weaker. Scientists believe this weakened communication could lead to difficulties with learning, social skills, and behavior that are often seen in autism.
To understand how this affects behavior, the scientists studied mice with changes in the Usp9X gene. These mice had fewer brain connections and showed unusual behaviors compared with normal mice. The researchers think similar changes could happen in the brains of some people with autism.
This discovery does not explain all cases of autism, since the condition can have many different causes. However, it gives scientists an important clue about how early brain development works and how small changes at the cellular level can lead to larger differences in behavior and communication later in life.
The researchers say more studies are needed to learn whether these findings could help doctors detect autism earlier or develop new treatments in the future. Understanding the biology of autism may one day lead to better support for individuals and families affected by the condition.
The study was published in the scientific journal Neuron. It highlights how delicate brain development is and how tiny changes in the way brain cells connect can shape how a person experiences the world.
If you care about autism, please read studies about food additives and ADHD, and natural fixes for ADHD.
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