Autistic Brains Show Too Many Connected Neurons

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-21/autistic-brains-show-too-many-connected-neurons.html

Autism may be a disorder of hyper-connectivity in the brain, according to a study that found children with the condition have too many synapses, the points where neurons connect and communicate with each other.

The study, published yesterday in the journal Neuron, suggests that a dysfunction in the brain doesn’t prune the neurons during development, as happens in most people. Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center examined tissue from the brains of children who had died, including those with and without autism.

Autism disorders are characterized by indifference to social engagement, communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors. There is no cure or single known cause, though studies have suggested a range of potential biological and environmental starting points. The finding adds a new pathway that may be targeted by a drug, researchers said.

“This is an important finding that could lead to a novel and much-needed therapeutic strategy for autism,” said Jeffrey Lieberman, chairman of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center, in a statement. He wasn’t involved in the study.

[trotsky]

1. Fascinating info. n/t