A compound developed by Indian researchers has shown tremendous promise in providing better treatment of autism. Studies suggest that the compound can restore neural function, improve memory and learning and reduce episodes of epileptic seizures.
The compound, named 6BIO, has been developed by researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research. The research team behind this pioneering creation includes Vijaya Verma, Kavita Sharma, MJ Vijay Kumar, Sridhar Rajaram, Ravi Manjithaya, Ravi Muddashetty, James P Clement, and Thomas Behnisch.
Studies conducted on the mouse model have shown promising results not only when administered in the developmental and childhood stages (1 – 6 years) but also during mid-childhood (7 – 11 years). In the latter group, most brain regions are considered to be fully formed.
A press release issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India about the development informed, “Current therapeutics to treat ASD aims to alleviate symptoms such as epileptic seizures or sleep issues but not to treat the multiple problems of ASD/ID. A major challenge in finding better therapeutics to treat ASD is the potency of the drug to help the patients to perform their daily activities with efficiency close to that of a healthy person. Achieving this is particularly difficult after a certain age, especially from the mid-childhood stages.”
Previously, several studies have linked the developmental disorder with disruption of the typical brain development, especially with underdeveloped neural connections, in early childhood. This alteration in brain development can lead to reduced information processing capabilities, making following even simple instructions challenging.
With a combination of behavioural experiments and electrophysiology, 6BIO has been found effective in the treatment of autism via restoration of the information processing abilities in the mouse model. Data from the current study indicate that 6BIO can help children with ASD learn and recall, be social, and alleviate other symptoms such as seizures or sleep issues.
