Gene Study Shows Promise for Autism

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
December 20, 2007; Page D7 WASHINGTON --
Genetic engineering can correct the worst symptoms in mice of Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of mental retardation and autism, researchers reported.
They said it is possible a drug could do the same thing as their gene tinkering, perhaps providing a treatment for Fragile X syndrome and other causes of retardation and autism, too.
Fragile X syndrome affects 90,000 to 100,000 Americans. It is caused by a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome. There is no treatment.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Mark Bear at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and colleagues created this mutation in mice and corrected their symptoms by adding a few more genetic tweaks. They said an experimental class of drugs could have the same effect.