Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found a clear link between autism and nitric oxide levels in brain neurons. The peer-reviewed study was conducted by Dr. Haitham Amal of the School of Pharmacy at the Medical School. The researchers hope that in the future drugs can be developed to reduce the symptoms of autism.
Amal and his collaborators, who began their study in 2019, found that higher nitric oxide levels are associated with brain changes and autistic behavior. What exactly the threshold value is has yet to be clarified.
Both mice and humans were examined for the study. Mice injected with nitrous oxide began to exhibit autistic behavior. They then looked at another group of mice, which had the same genetic mutations as those seen in children with autism. It turned out that these mice had high nitric oxide levels and therefore also showed autistic behavior. This lessened after they were given something that lowered nitric oxide levels in the brain neurons.
Blood samples and stem cells from children diagnosed with autism were also found to have high levels of nitric oxide. Once these nitric oxide levels were brought down, the scientists saw changes in the neuronal serotype.
It is striking that the team also studied women: something that is usually neglected in studies, because autism is three to four times more common in men. The research showed that there were gender-specific differences, something that is also very useful to investigate further if one wants to develop a drug to treat the symptoms of autism.
Autism, a neurological and developmental disorder, affects one in 100 children worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Between 2007 and 2018, the number of autism diagnoses in Israel increased by 169 percent.
The causes appear to be both genetic and environmental. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a diverse group of disorders characterized by problems with social interaction and communication. Autism can also be associated with atypical activity and behavior patterns, such as difficulty transitioning from one activity to another and a hyperfocus on details. Many are diagnosed in childhood, but others not until adulthood.
2023-07-03 12:48:36
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