GENE VARIANT IS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH AUTISM AND GASTROINTESTINAL
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GENE VARIANT IS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH AUTISM AND GASTROINTESTINAL
GENE VARIANT IS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH AUTISM AND GASTROINTESTINAL DYSFUNCTION
Autism is a disorder characterized, in part, by deficits in communication abilities. Gastrointestinal conditions are common among individuals with autism, and it may be difficult for some individuals to communicate that they are experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort. Some theories of autism speculate that gastrointestinal dysfunction may impact brain development, while other theories of autism suggest that the altered nervous system development may affect gastrointestinal function. In the study, "Distinct Genetic Risk Based on Association of MET in Families With Co-occurring Autism and Gastrointestinal Conditions," researchers demonstrate genetic risk may be playing a role in both the brain and the gut. The scientists found that a functional genetic variant in a gene called MET is more strongly associated with autism specifically in those families where an individual had co-occurring autism and a gastrointestinal condition. Independent studies have shown that the MET gene product, a receptor tyrosine kinase protein, functions in both brain development and gastrointestinal repair. These data suggest that altered MET expression may contribute to a syndrome that includes autism and co-occurring gastrointestinal dysfunction.
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/mar09studies.htm#television
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Posted 4/14/09 12:09 PM |
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