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Microglia as a target for new interventions

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There is a cell in the brain called the microglia which has been traditionally overlooked as a target for therapies. New research supported by ASF and @FraxAresearch suggests that altering the function of microglia in the brain may help support the development of healthy and functional connections in the brain that may be impaired in autism, making the microglia a prime candidate for research. Drs. Marine Krzisch from @UniversityofLeeds and Dr. Mike Tranfaglia at @FraxAResearch describe the approach and how it can be developed to create specific therapies, that when combined with behavioral interventions, can drastically alter someone’s abilities. Dr. Krzisch is also interviewing families about how the findings will be explained when they are ready, what is important to them and what should research emphasize in the future. Participants will be compensated, just email her: M.Krzisch@leeds.ac.uk

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The earliest differences across ASDs

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New neurons can be generated in a dish (amazing in itself), and then these neurons can then be studied to examine how they grow, expand, divide and connect. Using this technology, researchers are finding differences in several cell functions in different forms of autism. These differences are in proliferation, which is an increase in the number of cells, as well as the ability of those cells to signal to each other once they are formed. Some autism brains have too many cells, others do not proliferate as quickly as typical developing cells. These things are somewhat dependent on the genetic background which controls head size.

While these different forms of autism all have differences in proliferation, sometimes in different directions, they are all altered, regardless of the genes involved. So, is this one basic biological features that may help identify autism from the earliest points in development? Since they can be studied at any time in life, is this a new biomarker? Should they be used to better understand different subgroups? Much needs to be studied but please listen to this week’s ASF podcast with Dr. Robert Connacher to learn more about the studies going on at Rutgers University to examine this issue.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213671122002089