Tag: cells

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The newest most advanced way to study gene x environment interactions

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This week we talk to Dr. Dan Geschwind from UCLA who was funded by the Autism Data Science Initiative to study thousands of environmental chemicals and medicines across various genetic backgrounds. A decade ago, this study would have taken a decade, but through new technology, robotics, and existing knowledge about genes and these chemicals, it is automated and can be done is 3 years. Dr. Geschwind will explain how he is using cells from people with autism to identify potential environmental factors that may contribute to a diagnosis of autism, or exacerbate or aleviate symptoms of autism and developmental disorders. This is incredibly cool – have a listen to what this ADSI project is doing and what it can tell scientists about what is important to focus on in autism.

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Have you heard the good news?

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The National Institutes of Health just awarded $50million to 13 different research sites to better understand genetic and environmental contributions to an autism diagnosis, or increase in prevalence in autism, as well as environmental factors which improve the quality of life for children and adults with ASD.

You can read about them here or listen to this 30 minute podcast which summarizes them.

https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/autism-data-science-initiative/funded-research

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Guys, we all need exercise

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People with autism are less likely to be physically active and more likely to be sedentary.    A number of studies have looked into different physical activities, both group based and individually, on improvements in health as well as core features of autism, and most have had positive results.  New animal model research demonstrates a benefit of exercise using the maternal immune activation model of ASD, pruning back the excess of connections and cell fibers.  As people with autism also have too many connections in the brain, this may have a direct therapeutic benefit.  But besides all the scientific conjecture, we all need more exercise, physical activity interventions seem to only help, not hurt, people across the spectrum, and should be used to complement, not replace existing therapies.

 

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29693781

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31102193

 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10803-019-04050-9

 

https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/retrieve/pii/S2211124719306266?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2211124719306266%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

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Regression in autism, down to the neuron

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On Friday, February 19, the NIH organized a workshop on regression in autism.  It included autism researchers as well as neurobiologists studying regression in other disorders, specifically Rett Syndrome.  Rett Syndrome is characterized by a regression in symptoms around 18-30 months of age but is the result of a known genetic mutation.  Because the genetic mutation is know, researchers have been able to make huge advancements in the study of the cellular causes of regression.  Do they apply to autism?  The theory of overturning is presented and discussed in the workshop and on the podcast.  You can see the full agenda at:  https://iacc.hhs.gov/non-iacc-events/2016/loss-of-skill-agenda-february19.shtml

Here are some screen shots of the workshop:

 

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