Global News

June 13, 2012

Potential Environmental Trigger For Autism...

... But Only In Genetically Predisposed Individuals



Full story: Medical News Today 

Psychoactive medications in water affect the gene expression profiles of fathead minnows in a way that mimics the gene expression patterns associated with autism spectrum disorder in genetically susceptible humans, according to research published in the open access journal PLoS ONE. These results suggest a potential environmental trigger for autism spectrum disorder in this vulnerable population, the authors write.

The researchers, led by Michael A. Thomas of Idaho State University, exposed the fish to three psychoactive pharmaceuticals - fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSR1; venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, and carbamazepine, used to control seizures - at concentrations comparable to the highest estimated environmental levels.

They found that the only gene expression patterns affected were those... READ MORE


Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. 
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

No comments:

Post a Comment