EPILEPSY MEDS ERASE AUTISM!
AUTISM symptoms were eliminated in mice by an inexpensive epilepsy drug, researchers say — and the bombshell breakthrough may lead to a cure for the devastating developmental disorder! Scientists at Germany’s Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research found lamotrigine — which costs just $3 per pill — curbed autistic social and behavioral problems in test rodents.
The anti-seizure drug, which was approved in the U.S. for the treatment of epilepsy in 1994, works by reversing changes to brain cells caused by a genetic mutation.
Other scientists had previously established the MYT1L protein plays a role in various neuronal diseases. MYT1L is typically produced by almost all nerve cells in the body. It determines which genes are — or are not — active in the cell and suppresses developmental pathways that program a cell toward muscle or connective tissue.
In the new research, mice genetically lacking MYT1L suffered from brain abnormalities and showed several behavioral changes consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including social deficits and hyperactivity.
The team’s most striking discovery was MYT1Ldeficient neurons produced extra sodium channels normally restricted to heart muscle cells. That change resulted in increased electrical pulses in the nerve cells — a common marker of autism.
“When MYT1L-deficient cells were treated with lamotrigine, their electrophysiological activity returned to normal,” states the study.
“In mice, the drug was even able to curb ASDassociated behaviors such as hyperactivity.”
Lead researcher Dr. Moritz Mall says, “Apparently, drug treatment in adulthood can alleviate brain cell dysfunction and thus counteract the behavioral abnormalities typical of autism.” Mall reveals the first clinical studies with humans are in the planning stage. More than 5.5 million American adults are living with ASD, while one in 44 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with the condition. The prevalence of ASD has skyrocketed 178 percent in the last 20 years.
About three in four autistic adults are not employed, and 40 percent of children on the spectrum are nonverbal. The cost of caring for autistic Americans could reach
$461 BILLION by 2025!
While the scientists insist more research is needed, they believe the recent results are promising.