Brain Cell Activation Technique May Help Treat Autism, Cerebral Palsy: Study

A new experimental technique used to activate brain stem cells may be able to treat autism and cerebral palsy, creating new neural pathways that could help millions of children worldwide, if it is perfected.

In a study published late last month in the journal Science Advances, a team of researchers led by Kun-Yang Lin from the Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore demonstrated that the technique could treat a multitude of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Neural stem cells are needed for brain development and basic brain function, but they often stay dormant until they receive a specific protein signal to activate them. Prior studies have shown defects in neural stem cells can lead to neurodevelopment disorders like cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and autism, as well as cognitive decline.

In this latest study, Kun-Yang’s team looked at stem cells in the brains of fruit flies, using a specific type of protein to wake up the stem cells. They then examined the results with high-resolution microscopes.

Researchers said this not only activated the stem cells in the brain, but it helped create new neurons, which help with brain repair and development. While the research was done on fruit flies, study authors said the same pathways are in people, suggesting the findings may point to the same functions and improvements in humans.

Jun-Yang also said the process may lead to treatment of other brain-related discoveries linked to the same neural pathways and functions, such as brain injuries and brain aging.

Neurodevelopment disorders affect about 5% of children and teens around the world, so opening up this line of research can help millions of children, the researchers indicated.

Autism and Cerebral Palsy Risks

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopment condition diagnosed in approximately 2% of children. Prior studies have found that autism diagnoses increased to one in 59 children in 2018, and the condition now impacts up to one in 44 children.

Symptoms are wide-ranging but include delays in language, difficulty with social interaction and maintaining eye contact, among other problem. Children are often diagnosed by the age of four.

Causes of autism are largely unknown, but research indicates exposure to lead and other heavy metals, as well as toxic chemicals during pregnancy may increase the risk of a child developing autism.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that is often caused by brain damage during pregnancy or shortly after birth. It can lead to severe developmental problems, loss of motor function and life-long disability. The condition affects one out of every 365 children.

Research indicates cerebral palsy is commonly caused by medical mistakes committed by doctors and other hospital staff. Typically, loss of oxygen to the brain during delivery can lead to the disability, which is incurable. However, other studies link genetics and even air pollution exposure during pregnancy to an increased risk of cerebral palsy.