Closer Study Of Major Autism Gene Suggests Possible Treatment Approach

Research led by a scientist at Cincinnati Children's who primarily studies brain tumors may open doors for improved treatment of autism. The study led by Qing Richard Lu, Ph.D., Beatrice C. Lampkin Endowed Chair in Cancer Epigenetics and Scientific Director of the Brain Tumor Center at Cincinnati Children's, sheds new light on the role that the CHD8 gene plays in brain development—both during embryonic growth and much later during adulthood. Of those tested for various genes linked to autism, nearly everyone with disruptive mutations of the gene CHD8 had autism.

The study, published September 23, 2022 . . .