Zinc Found to Help With Autism

            According to a new study from the University of Aukland, the cellular changes that the brain undergoes from genetic mutations such as autism can be reversed by zinc. Autism is from a genetic mutation that begins at the cellular level that results in changes in behavior. So why did they decide to use zinc? Zinc is considered to be a very important factor in the synthesis of both DNA and proteins. It has been found that autistic children have a zinc deficiency, which is critical because zinc is needed for children to help them grow and develop. In this study, the protein of interest was Shank3, which is located in the brain and has association with disorders like autism and schizophrenia.

From the team’s research Shank3 was found to be an important factor of signaling system that is zinc-sensitive and can regulate how the brain cells can communicate. Even though the Shank3 gene has autism-associated genes that impair communication with brain cells, the ability to respond to the addition of zinc is not affected. So when zinc is added brain cell communication can be increased when it was previously weakened by changes to Shank3 that were autism associated. Environmental and dietary factors can change the protein’s signaling system, which causes the ability to control the nerve cell function of the brain to decrease. What is next for this research? The team hopes to further study what the affect of dietary zinc supplements has on autistic behaviors. I am really excited to see where this research goes in the future, for I believe that autism awareness and research is very important

References:

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-08-zinc-reverse-brain-cell-autism.html

http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/zinc_and_autism_the_missing_link_for_brain_cell_communication/