New Study Reveals Early Brain Development Differences in Autism, Opening Path for Future Treatments
Researchers have achieved an important milestone in understanding how autism develops in the womb, which could pave the way for future treatments. Autism spectrum disorders, which affect about 1 in 100 children worldwide, involve challenges with social interaction and communication. The degree of these difficulties varies widely, from mild to severe. Until now, the reasons behind this variability were not well understood. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego have used laboratory-grown mini-brains, known as cerebral cortical organoids, to explore differences in brain development during the first weeks of pregnancy between children with autism and neurotypical children.
in his studioIn a study published in the journal Neuroscience, researchers collected stem cells from blood samples of 10 toddlers with autism and six neurotypical toddlers. These stem cells were then reprogrammed to form brain-like structures, allowing the team to observe early brain development. They found that the mini-brains of the children with autism were, on average, 40% larger than those of the neurotypical children. This overgrowth correlated with the severity of autism symptoms, suggesting that abnormal brain growth in the first trimester could be an early indicator of autism. The study also identified that a protein called NDEL1, which regulates brain growth, was present at lower levels in the organoids of children with autism, which could contribute to the overgrowth.
Researchers aim to discover more molecular mechanisms underlying this abnormal brain growth, which could lead to new treatments to control the symptoms of autism. Understanding the embryonic origins of the different subtypes of autism is crucial, as this research highlights the biological basis of the social challenges faced by people with autism and provides insight into when these differences begin. These studies are essential for developing targeted interventions that address the root causes of autism.
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