Media release

From: Society for Neuroscience

Early Life Treatment Prevents Autism Symptoms From Developing in Mice 

Identifying the window of development could reveal ideal time to intervene in autism 

Timing is key when treating developmental disorders. Blocking an overactive protein during the first five weeks of life prevents autism symptoms from ever developing in mice, according to new research published in JNeurosci.

The brain develops capabilities, like language, during specific spans of time called critical periods. The symptoms of disorders like autism arise during a set critical period; administering a targeted intervention only during the critical period could prevent the disorder from ever taking shape without the burden of a life-long treatment.

Gibson et al. compared intervention timing in a genetic mouse model of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a neurodevelopmental disorder with high rates of autism spectrum disorder. The research team administered the drug rapamycin to inhibit production of mTOR, a protein that is overproduced in people and animals with TSC. After four weeks of treatment and four weeks without treatment, the mice displayed normal social behavior and normal activity in cerebellum neurons, resembling the control mice without TSC. These results indicate administering a treatment during critical periods in development could prevent autism symptoms from ever manifesting. In humans, TSC is often diagnosed in utero, providing an opportunity to administer a preventative during this crucial time.