Autism, Obesity And Schizophrenia Gene Isolated

The size of a baby's head is often related to neurological disorders, such as autism - which affects 1 in 88 children. Now, researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified genes responsible for head size at birth by inserting human genes into zebrafish. The study is published online in the journal Nature. Nicholas Katsanis, Ph.D., Jean and George Brumley Jr. M.D...

New genes contributing to autism discovered; Genetic links between neurodevelopment and psychiatric disorders

A new approach to investigating hard-to-find chromosomal abnormalities has identified 33 genes associated with autism and related disorders, 22 for the first time. Several of these genes also appear to be altered in different ways in individuals with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

Further evidence of immune system link to autism?

KANSAS CITY, USA: According to a study in the April 2012 International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience , the plasma of children with autism had significantly lower levels of various cytokines, compared with that of unrelated healthy siblings from other families, who had family members with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cytokines are small proteins released by cells of the immune system ...

A striking link is found between the Fragile-X gene and mutations that cause autism

Scientists have discovered a striking association between genes found disrupted in children with autism and genes that are targets of FMRP, the protein generated by the gene FMR1, whose dysfunction causes Fragile-X syndrome.

Mesa autistic boy killed on U.S. 60 had wandered away

The 9-year-old autistic boy who was struck and killed on U.S. 60 Saturday night had wandered away from home earlier and was being sought by Mesa police.