Adult reversal of cognitive phenotypes in neurodevelopmental disorders

Abstract

Recent findings in mice suggest that it is possible to reverse certain neurodevelopmental disorders in adults. Changes in development, previously thought to be irreparable in adults, were believed to underlie the neurological and psychiatric phenotypes of a range of common mental health problems with a clear developmental component. As a consequence, most researchers have focused their efforts on understanding the molecular and cellular processes that alter development with the hope that early intervention could prevent the emergent pathology. Unexpectedly, several different animal model studies published recently, including animal models of autism, suggest that it may be possible to reverse neurodevelopmental disorders in adults: Addressing the underlying molecular and cellular deficits in adults could in several cases dramatically improve the neurocognitive phenotypes in these animal models. The findings reviewed here provide hope to millions of individuals afflicted with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, since they suggest that it may be possible to treat or even cure them in adults.

Natural Neural Projection Dynamics Underlying Social Behavior

“…In rodents, most studies on social behavior have focused on socio-sexual behaviors, such as pair bonding and behaviors related to sexual competition (Aragona et al, 2006; Curtis and Wang, 2005; Gingrich et al, 2000; Leypold et al, 2002; Liu and Wang, 2003; Young et al, 2001; Young and Wang, 2004). However, comparatively little is known about neural circuitry regulating adult same-sex, non-aggressive social interaction, which is of potential relevance for understanding circuits that go awry in social-function disorders (Silva and Ehninger, 2009). …”

An Evolutionary Biology Approach to Understanding Neurological Disorders

“…Some wide-reaching findings have already been made based on results from these model systems. For example, multiple studies indicate neurodevelopmental disorders may be treatable, even in adults (Ey et al, 2011;Silva & Ehninger, 2009). Furthermore, rodent models are replicating some of the co-morbidities associated with an ASD diagnosis, such as immune abnormalities (Heo et al, 2011) and epilepsy (Gilby, 2008;Peñagarikano et al, 2001).…”

Medical treatment of autism spectrum disorders

“…Research on novel treatments aimed at neurotransmitter activity such as oxytocin receptor genes [49], gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-B receptor genes [50], metabotropic glutamate receptors or mGluR5 [51] and neuroligin and neurexin genes [52] could potentially advance our treatment of people with ASD. Progress in mouse models of several developmental disorders has been promising [53 ]. Until then, our medical treatments will focus on those conditions that are somewhat better understood, using therapies that are shown effective.…”