The Meaning of Microglia

We normally focus on the function of brain cells that send signals to eachother and communicate across small or long distances, which show differences in ASD. However, we rarely pay attention to the other cells in the brain. One type of cell, called the microglia, has been shown to not only help “pick up the garbage” of the brain, but also shape these connections that occur between brain cells. This week @DavidMenassa1 from @QueensCollegeOx, @UniofOxford, @unisouthampton published a paper in @Dev_Cell that looks at how microglia shape the brain during critical periods of development, and what this means for ASD. We are grateful he shares his expertise (and a beautiful accent) with us this week.

Check out the paper HERE:

https://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/fulltext/S1534-5807(22)00546-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1534580722005469%3Fshowall%3Dtrue 

The autism brain at 3 months old

Biological features of ASD can be seen long before behavioral impairments in children are seen. Researchers are now studying the activity of the brain at 3 months in infants that go on to develop autism and those that do not. There are distinct features in the brain seen in a 3 month old that goes on to develop ASD. In addition, excessive brain activity resulting in seizures can increase the probability of a later ASD diagnosis in infants with a rare genetic disorder called Tuberous Sclerosis. This podcast will explain how connectivity and activity in a 3 month old can influence a later diagnosis. What we don’t know more about is those intervening months, and what can be done to mitigate symptoms.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2451902220301403?via%3Dihub

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/acn3.51128