Italian science opens up prospects for autism treatment

Xinhua News Agency reported on September 25 after three years of research, a group of scientists led by an Italian researcher who has made significant progress could open up prospects to find ways to treat autism.

The discovery was made by the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, where Italian professor of neurosurgery and biology Daniele Piomelli of the University of California in Irvine, USA takes on a position.

Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of autism due to a problem with the X chromosome.

Infants with Fragile X Syndrome cannot produce a protein called Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) , which is essential for normal neurodevelopment.

By studying the role of the FMRP protein in nerve function in genetically modified mice, Piomelli and his team have found a stimulating molecule that "corrects" the brain of mice. Gene transformation carries Fragile X Syndrome. This molecule seems to help nerve function to restore the normal state.

"These results are very important because they show the presence of molecules that can neutralize the effects of death-related diseases on behavior. But unfortunately this finding does not mean we have found a treatment for autism that has just discovered a promising pathway for pharmacological research ".

According to a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism affects one in 88 children in the United States, while the rate in Italy is 1/100.