Zinc and its Role in Preventing Autism
Medical scientists from University of Auckland found that the trace mineral zinc may reverse cellular changes in brain caused by genetic mutations that occur in autism.
The five-year study was a collaboration between researchers in Auckland, America and Germany.
"This most recent work, builds significantly from our earlier work showing that gene changes in autism decrease brain cell communication." says Associate Professor Johanna Montgomery from the University’s Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research.
Their team is seeking ways to reverse cellular deficits caused by autism-associated changes in brain cells. "This study looks at how zinc can alter brain cell communication that is altered at the cellular level and we are now taking that forward to look at the function of zinc at the dietary and behaviour level." she adds.
Prof Montgomery explains that autism begins within the cell. Such cellular deficits then results to behavioural problems.
A number of international studies suggest that normally, there are high levels of zinc in the brain, and that this mineral regulates the brain. It was found that children with autism had high deficiencies of zinc. In animal models, previous research found that if mothers were fed with low-zinc diet, their offspring is more likely to exhibit autistic-like behaviours.
"Our work is showing that even the cells that carry genetic changes associated with autism can respond to zinc. “, says Pro Montgomery.
"Disruption of how zinc is regulated in the body may not only impair how synapses work in the brain, but may lead to cognitive and behavioural abnormalities seen in patients with psychiatric disorders."
She explained that their findings suggest that environmental/dietary factors such as changes in zinc levels could alter this protein’s signalling system and reduce its ability to regulate the nerve cell function in the brain.
This applies not only in autism but to other psychiatric disorders as well, such as schizophrenia.
But she warned that too much zinc is toxic. So it is important to determine the optimal level of zinc needed to prevent or treat autism. The researchers also seek to examine whether zinc is beneficial to all or just a subset of genetic changes that occur in people with autism.
Source of this article:
Shank3 Is Part of a Zinc-Sensitive Signaling System That Regulates Excitatory Synaptic Strength
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