Autism Press Releases

Three recent studies show that the drug rapamycin reduces neurological symptoms in mouse models of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a rare genetic disorder associated with epilepsy and autism. Scientists say those results could pave the way for effective treatment – and not just for TSC.

Three recent studies show that the drug rapamycin reduces neurological symptoms in mouse models of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a rare genetic disorder associated with epilepsy and autism. Scientists say those results could pave the way for effective treatment – and not just for TSC.

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has transformed scientists' understanding of Rett syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes autistic behavior and other disabling symptoms. Until now, scientists thought that the gene behind Rett syndrome was an "off" switch, or repressor, for other genes. But the new study, published today in Science1, shows that it is an "on" switch for a startlingly large number of genes.

Free, accurate information on many neurological disorders is now available on a new Spanish-language website from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The website is available at espanol.ninds.nih.gov.

Información precisa y gratuita sobre muchos desordenes neurológicos esta ahora disponible en una nueva página web en español del National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) el cual es parte de los National Institutes of Health (NIH). La página web se encuentra disponible en espanol.ninds.nih.gov.

A new study shows that inactivating a gene called Pten in a mouse model produces disturbances in social interaction and brain organization that closely mirror human autism and related disorders.  This is the first time scientists have developed an animal model with both behavioral and cellular abnormalities similar to autism.  These animals could provide important insights into understanding the brain regions and neurochemical interactions that underlie in this mysterious disease.

A new study shows that inactivating a gene called Pten in a mouse model produces disturbances in social interaction and brain organization that closely mirror human autism and related disorders.  This is the first time scientists have developed an animal model with both behavioral and cellular abnormalities similar to autism.  These animals could provide important insights into understanding the brain regions and neurochemical interactions that underlie in this mysterious disease.

A new study sheds light on how people quickly learn associations such as “stop at red” or “go at green”. This study challenges the current view of how specific brain areas help us learn rules and behave accordingly. The findings help to reveal how the brain organizes and orders its functions and processes, systems that may be disrupted in disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.

Researchers have identified the genes for two different forms of Joubert syndrome, a rare developmental disorder that causes coordination and movement problems and mental retardation in children. The findings allow genetic testing for some forms of the disorder and provide valuable insights about how the human brain develops.

A new study shows that elevated concentrations of proteins present at birth in the blood may be associated with the development of autism and mental retardation later in childhood. The identification of a biological marker early in life and before the onset of symptoms could lead to earlier and more definitive diagnoses, better clinical definitions, and the discovery of interventional therapies for the disorders.
Fact Sheet

A new study shows that elevated concentrations of proteins present at birth in the blood may be associated with the development of autism and mental retardation later in childhood. The identification of a biological marker early in life and before the onset of symptoms could lead to earlier and more definitive diagnoses, better clinical definitions, and the discovery of interventional therapies for the disorders.
Fact Sheet

Scientists have identified the second of two genes that cause tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a relatively common developmental disorder characterized by a number of abnormalities, including seizures, benign tumors in several organs, and variable emotional and cognitive disabilities. The discovery, to be reported in the August 8, 1997, issue of Science by David Kwiatkowski, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), both components of the National Institutes of Health.