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A new study suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs)—a type of RNA (ribonucleic action), which is involved in protein synthesis—-may play a role in the development of autism. miRNAs are “abundant in the brain” and have a role in neurological diseases such as Tourette’s sydrome and Fragile X syndrome. Noting that autism is a “genetically complex disease,” […]
Over at Adaptive Complexity is a quite comprehensive post on progress in the hunt for autism genes by Michael White, a biochemist and a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Genetics and the Center for Genome Sciences at the Washington University School of Medicine. Starting by noting the too-oft heard link between autism and […]
A letter abstract in the June 22nd Nature Medicine is entitled Reversal of learning deficits in a Tsc2+/- mouse model of tuberous sclerosis. Tuberous sclerosis is a rare genetic disease that affects the central nervous system and causes benign tumors to grow on the brain, kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. Those with TSC […]
While the scientific evidence refutes a link between autism and vaccines, parents of young children can’t seem to stop worrying about this and (as a June 18th CNN story reports) are wondering: Should they vaccinate their baby? Should they space out the vaccines and have a child receive their immunizations for measles, mumps and rubella […]
The earlier part of this year saw the publication of a number of studies about the genetics of autism, with one scientist speculating about a unified theory of autism.
The July 2008 Nature Genetics has a review of psychiatric genetics that considers progress and controversy. Here is the abstract:
Several psychiatric disorders — such as bipolar disorder, […]
Having ADHD might be beneficial to a group of nomads in Kenya, yesterday’s Science Daily reports. Nomadic tribesmen who have an ADHD-variant of the gene DRD4 fare better have better health than those without it, but when they settle, they become malnourished. DRD4 codes for a receptor for dopamine; according to Dan Eisenberg, an anthropology […]
More genetics news today: Researchers have identified the mutated gene that causes childhood absence epilepsy (CAE).
The seizures of childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) are usually staring spells during which the child is not aware or responsive. The child’s eyes may roll up briefly. Each spell lasts about 10 seconds and ends abruptly. The child often is […]
Mutations in the MeCP2 gene are known to cause Rett Syndrome, which causes impairments in language and cognitive and fine motor skills; according to the International Rett’s Syndrome Foundation, Rett Syndrome is often misdiagnosed as autism. Scientists have previously thought that the MeCP2 gene repressed other genes—switching them “off”; a study published in the June […]
At the 290th comment in the discussion about Adam Race and the priest restraining order, a question was asked about neurodiversity. The most recent New York Magazine has a long article by writer Andrew Solomon about, indeed, neurodiversity, the view that autism is not an illness, but a difference and a different way of […]
I never got around to making a list of last week’s top posts last week so here’s two weeks of “top posts” about autism. Rather than arrange them in chronological order, I’ve arranged them by topic:
My son Charlie turned 11 last Thursday, on May 15th. Life on the road with Charlie is my constant theme […]
Autism mother gets on her soapbox.
Written by Kristina Chew, PhD [email] for b5media.
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