Autism is a neurodevelopmental Disorder , It is usually noticed in the first two years of child development . The children with autism reach the developmental milestones at a slower pace.
While autism is highly heritable, researchers suspect both environmental and genetic factors as causes. Early speech or behavioral interventions can help children with autism gain self-care, social, and communication skills.
New research has found that a fault in the channel of cells related to release of calcium in brain may be linked to certain forms of autism and serve both as a potential biomarker for diagnosing the disorder as well as a potential therapeutic target.
In the brain, calcium is used to communicate information within and between neurons, and it activates a host of other cell functions, including ones regulating learning and memory, neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release – areas known to be dysfunctional in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
In this study, researchers found that defects in a channel called IP3R that controls the release of calcium from cell membranes could be the key to ASD diagnosis. According to a study in Translational Psychiatry.
- Autism now affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys
- There is no medical detection or cure for autism
- Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to in neurotypical children.
- Some harmful substances ingested during pregnancy also have been associated with an increased risk of autism.
- Early autism diagnosis can provide the basis for an appropriate educational and treatment program.