EFN

Specific genes could raise the risk of autism, new studies indicate. The discovery may be the key to unraveling the condition and therefore identifying possible treatments.

Scientists at Oxford University were among three major studies to have identified the genetic mechanisms underlying autistic disorders.

By studying DNA from more than 2,000 autistic children, researchers have revealed the best evidence so far for genetic links to the disorder.It indicates that proteins called cell adhesion molecules, which play a essential role in shaping brain “wiring” and the way nerve cells communicate, play a vital role in autism disorders.

Researcher, Hakon Hakonarson from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, reports a common gene variation was detected in 65 per cent of the autistic children studied

Hakonarson says the part of the genome affected by the mutation is important in brain functioning. He says future studies will have to investigate ways to target and possibly correct gene variations. Hakonarson says this further confirms the importance of genetics in Autism:

Autism is a serious developmental problem that commonly appears before age 3, affecting a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Experts believe autism affects as many as one in 150 children in the U.S., making it one the most the most common neurodevelopmental disorders.