Drug Quickly Reverses Autism-like Changes in Mice
A UCLA study found that the drug rapamycin can temporarily reverse autism-like behavioral and brain signaling changes in mice exposed to inflammation during pregnancy. While not a human treatment, the findings suggest that the adult brain may be more functionally adaptable than previously thought.
Why it matters
This research identifies new potential therapeutic targets for neurodevelopmental conditions by focusing on functional brain circuitry rather than just physical structure.
A new mouse study led by UCLA Health suggests that inflammation during pregnancy can trigger autism-like changes in offspring, but also that those brain and behavior effects may be rapidly but temporarily reversible in adulthood with a short-term dose of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin.
Even mild inflammation during mid-pregnancy has been shown to result in offspring autism-like symptoms, abnormal brain growth, seizures and heightened sensitivity to everyday sensory input that persists into adulthood. In the study published in the journal Nature Communications, UCLA researchers found that a single dose of the drug rapamycin significantly improved brain signaling and behavior symptoms in these offspring within about two hours, a time too short to correct underlying physical brain changes created by the maternal inflammation.
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