Research in review
New spliced autism gene
variants identified
Lipid levels impact autism
during pregnancy
In path-breaking new study at the
University of California, San Diego School
of medicine, researchers have isolated
new autism gene variants in human
brains which were not identified
previously because of their spliced forms.
The protein products of these new genes
were screened against many thousand
other proteins and their interactions
noted.
A study conducted at the York University
revealed its findings that elevated lipid
levels during pregnancy might be a trigger
for autism. The researchers found that two
vital neural pathways of the early intra-natal
development might be affected by
abnormal lipid molecule levels of the brain.
They also said that cosmetics and certain
over-the-counter
medications
used
commonly can alter these lipid levels and
might be a contributory factor indirectly for
autism.
Study sparks debate of risk
of autism in boys following
prenatal exposure to SSRIs
That drugs have side-effects, we are all
aware of, but side-effects that can
damage a child forever are a complete
no-no. Researchers from the John
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health along with teams from the
University of California, Davis’ MIND
institute studied 1000 mothers. They
arrived at a conclusion that the risk of
developmental problems like autism was
three times higher in boys in cases of
prenatal exposure to SSRIs.
Paternal obesity potential
risk factor for autism
A study conducted by the Norwegian
Institute of Public Health found that
obesity in the father could be a higher risk
factor for autism in the child than
maternal obesity.
Study finds prenatal
molecular roots for autism
and neuropsychiatric
conditions
A study from the prestigious Yale University
announced this week about a solitary
molecular mechanism that was responsible
for triggering brain cells and leading to
neuropsychiatric disorders. The team of
scientists exposed mice embryos to
common toxins like alcohol, methyl mercury
and maternal seizure-like processes and
found that the developing brain activated a
single gene they have named as HSF1 or
Heat Shock Factor -1 which protects the
brain from these insults