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Autism


Guest JMPA

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Not sure how many of you guys get the ASCP newsletters but ironically they posted an article I felt would be interesting enough to share regarding autism.

 

 

Experimental Medication Reduces Signs Of Autism In Mice.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek (4/26, Pettypiece) reports, "An experimental drug for depression being developed by Pfizer Inc....reduced signs of autism in mice," according to a study funded by Pfizer and the National Institutes of Health and published April 25 in the journal Science Translational Medicine. "The treatment, named GRN-529, targets the brain chemical glutamate, tied to socialization and behavior. When given to mice displaying signs of autism, it suppressed repetitive actions and anti-social behavior," researchers reported.

 

The National Journal (4/26, Fox, Subscription Publication) quotes study lead author Jacqueline Crawley, PhD, of the National Institute of Mental Health, who stated, "Our findings suggest a strategy for developing a single treatment that could target multiple diagnostic symptoms." Crawley explained, "Many cases of autism are caused by mutations in genes that control an ongoing process -- the formation and maturation of synapses, the connections between neurons. If defects in these connections are not hard-wired, the core symptoms of autism may be treatable with medications."

 

The Boston Globe (4/26, Kotz) "Daily Dose" blog points out that the study "is one of several to test a class of drugs that inhibit a cell receptor called mGluR5, that's known to play a role in Fragile X, an autistic-like syndrome. Clinical trials to test these drugs on Fragile X patients are already underway."

 

According to HealthDay (4/26, Goodwin), "Until recently, experts believed that the core symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and Fragile X syndrome...couldn't be treated well with medications, because the underlying abnormalities were 'hardwired' into the brain during fetal development, according to background information in the study." Study co-author Daniel Smith, PhD, of Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, indicated that the present study challenges that belief. Also covering the story is BBC News (4/25, Gallagher)

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Alot of smart people have considered the vaccine link. It seems to be unfounded for a number of reasons including retrospective data. Personally, I feel the increase is related to increased diagnosis and perhaps environmental changes. I do not think many Psychiatry PA's or epidemiologists are present on this board. Your question is probably better suited for your own research pubmed/medline etc. Read what the experts say.

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