More Brain, Less Pinky

MIT scientists at the Picower Institute have proven their ability to reverse the effects of mental retardation in mice, and can possibly extend their findings to include a reversal of autism. The science is a little beyond our understanding, even if they tried to simplify it

The mice were genetically manipulated to model Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the leading inherited cause of mental retardation and the most common genetic cause of autism. The condition, tied to a mutated X chromosome gene called fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene, causes mild learning disabilities to severe autism.

To prove the science they observed mice with FXS with symptoms similar to human patients afflicted with FXS and then followed an enzyme that they asserted would create change. From their press release: "The enzyme, called p21-activated kinase, or PAK, affects the number, size and shape of connections between neurons in the brain." The PAK did the job and changes were observed in the mice that indicated that the symptoms of the FXS afflicted mice were reversed or halted. Not only does this finding prove that they may be able to stop progression of mental retardation and autism but may be able to reverse the effects in patients that already exhibit the symptoms. Halting PAK was shown in the study not only stop but to reverse the structural abnormality of the neurological connections. Susumu Tonegawa, 1987 Nobel laureate, is a co-author of the work with Mansuo L. Hayashi, a former Picower Institute postdoctoral fellow currently at Merck Research Laboratories in Boston.

Image is promo cover of Pinky and the Brain Vol. 1 DVD - a favorite cartoon lab mice dynamic duo.