We might be on the brink of a major breakthrough in understanding autism!
Jessica Reyes, Patricia Wu, and Ryan Heapy discuss on new studies.
There are 14 different biochemical pathways that might be linked to the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
This is huge! It means we could be closer than ever to figuring out what causes autism, and maybe even finding ways to prevent or treat it early on.
The main suspect is a pathway called the purine metabolic pathway. This pathway is supposed to protect our cells from outside threats, but in kids with autism, it seems to get stuck in a sort of defensive mode. Imagine your immune system going haywire and constantly fighting invisible enemies – that’s kind of what’s happening in the cells of kids with ASD.
This research is still in its early stages, but it could change the way we think about autism and open the door to new treatments and interventions.
Finally, we might be getting closer to understanding the root of this complex condition, and that’s a big deal.
