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Autism breakthrough as scientists find 70 genes ‘strongly linked’ to condition
- US researchers looked at DNA of 150,000 people , 20,000 of whom had autism
- They identified the biological changes in the brain that contribute to autism
- They 70 genetic variants could pave way for new tests and treatments
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Scientists have discovered dozens of genes that are strongly linked to autism, in what could be a breakthrough.
Researchers hope the 70 newly-discovered genetic variants could pave the way for new tests and treatments for the condition.
In the largest study of its kind, US researchers looked at the DNA of 150,000 participants, 20,000 of whom had diagnosed autism.
They identified 70 genes that are ‘very strongly’ linked to the condition and hundreds more with looser associations.
Autism and related conditions such as Asperger’s affect more than one in 100 British children and one in 70 American youngsters — ten times more than 30 years ago.
Despite the rise, the condition is still little understood and getting a diagnosis can be lengthy and stressful for patients and their families.
Families are often forced to attend multiple hospital appointments and have children put through several psychological tests.
While drugs can be given to control symptoms such as aggression or hyperactivity, there is no cure.
Scientists are one step closer to solving the riddle of autism after discovering more than a hundred new genes linked to the condition
It’s hoped the latest study, published in Nature Genetics, will help future research teams narrow their focus.
Study co-author Dr Joseph Buxbaum, director of the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai in New York, said: ‘We know that many genes, when mutated, contribute to autism.
‘In this unprecedented study, we were able to bring together multiple types of mutations in a wide array of samples to get a much richer sense of the genes and genetic architecture involved in autism.
‘This is significant in that we now have more insights as to the biology of the brain changes that underlie autism and more potential targets for treatment.’
He said a ‘precision medicine approach’ based will likely be needed for autism that is based on a person’s genes.
And people should be genetically tested for autism to help develop new medicines that ‘benefit families and individuals at risk for autism spectrum disorder’, Dr Buxbaum said.
‘The more we can advance therapeutics, based on the targets identified in these genetic findings, the more people we have the potential to help, which could have a significant impact in addressing autism and developmental delay worldwide,’ he added.
His team pooled data from autism research initiatives, such as the Autism Sequencing Consortium, as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.
They looked at the genomes of around 150,000 people, 20,627 of whom had autism.
As well as the 70 genes that appear to be behind autism, they spotted a further 250 that are also linked with the condition.
They found that genes linked to autism tended to be active in the late stages of a person’s development