Agent reduces autism-like behaviors in mice: Boosts sociability, quells repetitiveness
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - 21:30
in Health & Medicine
Researchers have reversed behaviors in mice resembling two of the three core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. An experimental agent increased social interactions and lessened repetitive self-grooming behavior in a strain of mice that normally display such autism-like behaviors. Since the same class of agents is being tested in patients with a related syndrome, the findings suggest a strategy for developing a single treatment that could target multiple diagnostic symptoms of ASDs.