Study Shows How Common Gene Mutation Impacts Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Over the past decade, researchers have made great strides in identifying genes that lead to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which result in a continuum of social deficits, communication difficulties and cognitive delays. But it remains critical to determine how exactly these genetic risk factors impact the brain’s structure and function so that better treatments and interventions can be developed.

Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have looked more closely at one particular culprit that’s known to cause a susceptibility to ASD — a genetic variant, or mutation, in the MET receptor tyrosine kinase gene, commonly called MET. They discovered that the so-called “C” variant, which reduces MET protein expression, specifically impacts the network of connections among different areas of the brain involved in social behavior, including recognizing emotions shown on people’s faces. While this gene variation is commonly found in the brains of healthy individuals as well as those with ASD, the study showed that the gene has a bigger impact on brain connectivity in children with ASD. For more information, click here to read the full release.