Last Updated on June 9, 2026 by Staff
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others and behave. Autism Spectrum Disorder affects how people process information from their senses. Scientists have been searching for a time to find treatments that can help fix the underlying problems that cause Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Now researchers led by Director Kim Eunjoon at the Institute for Basic Science Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions have found a way to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder. They think that stopping a thing called SLC6A20 may help fix important brain pathways that are often broken in Autism Spectrum Disorder and other brain disorders.
The Brain Connection
Our brains have something called NMDA receptors that help us learn and remember things. NMDA receptors help our brain cells talk to each other. NMDA receptors need two things to work properly: glutamate and glycine.
Previous research has shown that when NMDA receptors do not work well it can cause brain disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder. Earlier scientists tried to increase glycine levels by targeting something called GlyT1. However this did not work well because GlyT1 is found in parts of the brain including the parts that control breathing and movement.
So the researchers focused on SLC6A20, which is mainly found in the parts of the brain that help us think and learn.
Success in Mice
The researchers used molecules to reduce the activity of the SLC6A20 gene in mice with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They did this to see if stopping SLC6A20 would help fix the brain pathways that are broken in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The results were very good. The treatment restored receptor activity in the mice with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The treatment also improved the mice’s behavior, including their interaction and communication.
The researchers saw improvements in the mice’s behavior even when they were adults. This is important because it means that the treatment may still work even after the brain has finished developing.
The treatment also worked for a time and the mice did not have any bad side effects.
Human Testing
The researchers wanted to see if the treatment would work in humans. They used brain models that were grown in the laboratory.
They used a tool to create brain models that had the same problems as people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. When they treated these brain models with the molecule the NMDA receptors started working again.
This is important because it shows that the treatment may work in humans.
Future Potential
The researchers found out that the treatment works by fixing the brain pathways. It does this by restoring protein function rather than changing the amount of protein in the brain.
This could be a way to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder and other brain disorders. The researchers think that stopping SLC6A20 could be an alternative to other treatments that are more complicated and hard to use.
The findings may have implications for other brain disorders like schizophrenia and intellectual disability. While more research is needed this discovery is a step towards developing new treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder and other brain disorders.
By fixing the brain pathways scientists may be able to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other brain disorders. They may be able to improve their social skills.