A Vanderbilt study has found a new link between a gene variation and the development of autism.
Researchers Daniel Campbell and Pat Levitt found a mutation of a particular gene where people with two copies of it were more than 2-times as likely to develop autism.
Levitt says the gene is one of 5 to 20 that he thinks are linked to the development of autism.
“These are going to give us more targets to look at both in terms of drug intervention and behavioral intervention. And maybe even allow us to diagnose it even earlier which would which would help us with getting early interventions online faster for more kids and that we know is really important. The earlier the intervention the more effective the intervention is.”
Autism is a neurological disorder where parts of the brain don’t develop normally. It’s usually diagnosed within the first three years of a child’s life.
Vanderbilt researchers say the gene, called M-E-T, is involved in the development of the brain, as well as in regulating the immune system and repairing the gastrointestinal tract.
The MET gene is usually associated with cancer and the mutation occurs in close to half of the population.
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