Jan 17 2008
Reason for Fragile X syndrome identified
Jan 17: A research conducted by the UT Southwestern Medical Centre shed light on how brain cells are affected in Fragile X syndrome. It is considered as the main reason for inherited mental retardation and genetic cause of autism. The disease got its name because it affects a single gene, Fmr1 on the X chromosome. When viewed from a microscope the area around the gene looks narrower than normal. As according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention the disease affects mostly males and one in every 4000 white males in US are affected by this syndrome.
While commenting on this the assistant professor of neuroscience and senior author of the study, Dr. Kimberly Huber said that: “Through this research we have identified the core mechanism of Fragile X syndrome. We came to know more about the signalling mechanism in brain that led to normal memory and learning skills. The research laid the groundwork for new areas for research.”
Dr. Huber’s did her research with mice and it gave importance to how Fragile X syndrome affects communication between cells in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that is linked with learning and memory. After thorough study she finds out that the two different chemical signals were getting twisted in Fragile X syndrome so the drugs that act together with these signals might be the way that help in treatment of this syndrome.
This finding is expected to guide the researches towards the correct path to find a holistic solution to overcome the Fragile X Syndrome. GHT
