Fragile X Syndrome and Autism

At the new multimillion dollar U.C. Davis M.I.N.D Institute some revolutionary and groundbreaking work is being carried out in the field of autism, and the little known Fragile X Syndrome. As the number of cases of autism increase, the research being done at the Institute is critical in discovering the genetic and neurological pathways of these puzzling disorders.

Many of us have a misconception that autism is one disorder, when in fact it is part of a family of disorders including Aspergers, autism spectrum disorder and Fragile X. Classified originally as a mental illness, gradually, through dedicated research, evolved into an awareness that these were a new class of disorder-neurodevelopmental.

Exciting findings announced by UC Davis in May of 2005, state they have discovered that autistic children have a different immune reaction to a variety of pathogens,  than do children who are not autistic.. This adds a biological dimension, possibly autoimmune to the autism spectrum.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, Ted Lindsay Foundation and Visceral. The UC Davis M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute is a unique collaborative center for research into the causes and treatments of autism, bringing together parents, scientists, clinicians and educators. 

Fragile X syndrome is a little known disorder believed to be responsible for mental retardation and is now being implicated in autism. It is recommended that all autistic children be tested for Fragile X, as it is found that between 15% and 33% of autistics possess the Fragile X gene. That is between 1/3 and 2/3 of all children suffering with autism. It is the single most common gene found.