A cheap epilepsy drug has cured autism-like symptoms in mice for the first time – in what could be a breakthrough.
Lamotrigine, brand name Lamictal, has been shown to limit behavioral and social problems associated with the disease, which is increasingly common in the United States.
The drug, which costs around US$3 per tablet (£2.50), is believed to work by reversing changes in brain cells caused by a genetic mutation.
Previous studies have shown that autism is more common in people with mutations that “turn off” a gene known as MYT1L.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Moritz Mall of the Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research, said: “It appears that drug treatment in adulthood can reduce the dysfunction of brain cells and thereby counteract the behavioral problems characteristic of autism.
He added: “However, the results are still limited to studies in mice; clinical trials in patients with ASA spectrum disorders have not yet been performed. The first clinical studies are in the early planning phase.’
Have autism rates really tripled in the US, or are doctors just getting better at detecting autism?
The number of children with autism has tripled in 16 years, raising questions about whether the condition is becoming more common.
Scientists are still not exactly sure what causes autism, although they understand that it is likely a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors.
The severity of the condition also varies widely across the spectrum, meaning that there is likely no one treatment option that can cure everyone.
MYT1L is a protein responsible for protecting the molecular identity of nerve cells and determining which genes are active in the cells and which are not.
Previous research has suggested that factors affecting the molecular programming of neurons may be involved in the development of autism.
For the latest study, researchers turned off MYT1L in neurons from mice and humans in the lab.
They found that mice without the protein had brain abnormalities, including a thinner cerebral cortex.
The mice also showed several signs of autism, including social deficits and hyperactivity.
When lamotrigine is used to treat epilepsy, it blocks sodium channels in the body, preventing the release of neurotransmitters that would otherwise cause seizures. In 2020, the drug was prescribed to nearly two million people in the United States.
In autism, the drug is believed to partially block sodium channels, allowing only the right amount of sodium to pass through.
The results of the study only apply to mice, which means the drug may not work the same way in humans for autism.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
