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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : October 8, 2014 10:26 AM IST
A new research has revealed that a protein which was previously connected to autism and is vital for brain mechanism, has a crucial part to play in drug addiction. The Cowan lab team that was led by Laura Smith, PhD, stated that some of the brain changes help us to learn and remember, whereas, some changes are harmful, such as those that occur in individuals struggling with drug abuse.
They further added that FMRP allows individuals to memorize things but it also controls how the brain responds to cocaine and ends up strengthening drug behaviors. By enhanced study of FMRP''s role in the process they might be able to suggest effective therapeutic options to prevent or reverse these changes. The paper was published in the issue of the neuroscience journal Neuron. (Read: Treating autism therapies and treatments)
What is autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder wherein the normal brain development is disrupted very early in life. Autistic spectrum disorder is an umbrella term to encompass all the neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Autism impacts communication, behaviour and social relationships and approximately 67 million people worldwide are estimated to be affected by it. It is the fastest growing global disorder. In this condition, cognition skills are hampered because of altered nerve cells, although the causative factor is unknown. A combination of genetics and the environment have been found to contribute to the development of autism. Symptoms differ from one child to the other. Autistic children have varying degrees of impairment in communication and socialization, and have various behavioural problems in the form of repetitive behaviour, restricted play interests and sometimes very unusual interests.
With inputs from IANS
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