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Transgenic Mice Decipher another Part of Autism Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - Michal Dekel Home >> News >> Medicine   
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Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have recently generated a mice model for autistic savants - a phenomenon in which an autistic person has an outstanding skill alongside his poor ability in social interactions. By using genetically engineered mice in which a specific protein in the brain was inactive, the researchers discovered an enhanced learning ability of the mice, but also an impaired long term memory, which resembles autism characteristics. The scientists hope that in the future, this work will lead to the development of treatment for autism and for other brain development disorders.
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Dr. Albert Y. Hung and colleagues from the Picower Institute For Learning And Memory at MIT have In the absence of Shank1, the genetically engineered mice actually learned a spatial memory task faster and better than normal mice. But when these mice were tested again several weeks later, they did not remember what they had learned as well as the normal mice did. This kind of behavior is reminiscent of the mixed features of autistic savants. Shank1 mutant mice also showed increased anxiety related behaviors, which are typical to autistic patients. Although it sounds counter-intuitive that a lack of a critical brain protein improves one's learning ability, the scientists suggest that Shank1 dissociates the process of learning and memory or, in other words, it allows a constant input to the brain but without maintaining the information in the long-term memory. In a related research that was carried out in the same institute by Li-Huei Tsai, another brain protein was pointed out as one of the culprits behind autism, adding to the accumulating evidences for multiple interaction genetic factors being the main causative determination of autism. No human mutations for Shank1 have been reported yet, making it difficult to relate this mutant protein to human autism. However, Shank1 is a close relative of the Shank3 protein, another synaptic scaffolding protein, and Shank3 mutations have been reported to be linked to autism. Therefore, it is clear that Shank proteins have a role in human cognitive development. TFOT previously covered another research project that used the “mouse model system” in which the researchers managed to genetically engineer a cancer resistant mouse. Future clinically useful insights and potential medications will only be possible if more elusive genes and proteins responsible for autism will be identified and studied. More information about Hung's research is available at the MIT news webpage. |
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It would be better to prevent the mutations in the first place. In the cases of non-familial autism and schizophenia fathering babies before the age of 33 would go a long way towards more healthy children with normal memories and abilities. |
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Sorry, but we have 5 children & the ones that were fathered earliest before age 33 are the one affected. The two born later - after I learned about the protective benefits of omega-3\'s & other supplements in addition to avoiding damaging foods - are the ones who are the healthiest all the way around, including neurologically. |
