Autism is a developmental condition that affects how people communicate and interact with others. It usually appears in early childhood and is more common in boys than in girls.
In fact, about 1 in every 59 children is diagnosed with autism, and boys are four times more likely to be affected. Children with autism may have trouble talking, understanding others, or dealing with changes in their environment.
These challenges can lead to different ways of behaving, such as avoiding eye contact or repeating …
Scientists have long been trying to understand what causes autism. One area of research focuses on the brain and how it develops. A team of researchers at Northwestern University has recently made an important discovery that may help explain how autism begins.
They found that a change in a certain gene can stop the brain from making enough synapses during early development. Synapses are tiny connections between brain cells that help them communicate with each other. Without enough synapses, the brain ca…
This study focused on a gene called ANK3, which is known to be linked to autism and other brain-related conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. ANK3 makes a protein called ankyrin-G, which helps brain cells grow and connect with one another.
But this protein doesn’t work alone—it needs help from another protein called Usp9X. Usp9X keeps ankyrin-G stable and allows it to function properly.
The researchers found that when Usp9X doesn’t work correctly, the amount of ankyrin-G in the brain drops. This happens during a critical period shortly after birth when the brain is growing rapidly.
In experiments with mice, the scientists saw that without enough ankyrin-G, the mice had fewer synapses. As a result, their brains didn’t develop normally, and they had trouble learning and behaving as expected, even when they became adults.
This lack of synapses may explain why some children with autism struggle with learning and social skills. If brain cells can’t talk to each other easily, it becomes harder for the brain to process information. The study shows that a problem with the Usp9X gene may lead to autism by disrupting this important brain communication system.
The research was led by Dr. Peter Penzes and published in the journal Neuron. It adds a new piece to the puzzle of how autism develops and offers hope for better ways to diagnose and treat the condition in the future.
By understanding how genes affect brain growth, scientists may be able to create new treatments that help the brain form healthy connections in children with autism.
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.
