Scientists are developing a new drug to treat autism

Researchers at the Institute of Natural Sciences of the Hebrew Israeli University in Jerusalem conducted an extensive study to find out how different mutations affect the functioning of the brain.

And it turns out that the genes associated with autism, as a rule, affect three regions of the brain: the cortex, the striatum and the cerebellum. The institute’s professor, Sajiv Shiffman, said the cerebellum, for example, bears responsibility for motor function and contributes to the development of social and cognitive functions.

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Scientists studied one of the most well-known autism genes, the Pogz gene. Professor Youssef Yarom at the Edmont Safari Center, a scientific specialist in the brain, said, “We were interested above all in how a mutation occurring in the mentioned gene affects the development of the mouse brain. Ultimately it turned out that mutations cause excessive social behavior in rodents. The mice that underwent tests were born with autism, and this is due to a mutation discovered in them. “

The professor said, “Doctors do not currently have a medicine against autism. However, there are drugs that help relieve symptoms of the disease with abuse. We hope that the new studies that we have conducted will help in developing a drug that directly affects the ongoing neurological processes in the cerebellum.”

The study by Professor Sajiv Schiffmann showed that some chemicals alter the activity of the cerebellum. Scientists are now trying to understand how human behavior can change in the event of the aforementioned mutation and what new drugs can be developed to treat autism.

He expressed his conviction that clarifying the neurological processes on which autism is based will open possibilities for developing new methods of treatment and make parents who raise their children with autism hope for a cure or at least an improvement in the child’s health status.

Source: Komsomolskaya Pravda

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