Indian researchers develop better therapeutics to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder

What is the News?

A group of Indian researchers have developed a compound called “6BIO” that can provide a better method to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)?

Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socialises with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication.

People with autism also often have co-occurring conditions, including epilepsy, depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Causes: Available scientific evidence suggests that there are probably many factors that make a child more likely to have an ASD, including environmental and genetic factors.

Symptoms: Early signs of this disorder can be noticed before a child reaches one year of age. However, symptoms typically become more consistently visible by the time a child is 2 or 3 years old.

Cases Worldwide: It is estimated that worldwide about one in 160 children has an ASD. 

What is the current treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)?

Current therapeutics to treat ASD aim to alleviate symptoms such as epileptic seizures or sleep issues but not to treat the multiple problems of ASD.

What have the Indian Researchers developed to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)?

Indian researchers have developed a compound called “6BIO” that can provide a better method to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

This compound has the potential for improving daily activities like learning and recollecting new tasks in patients with ASD/ Intellectual disability (ID).

Note: The Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 has increased the types of disabilities from 7 to 21. It has added autism spectrum disorder as one of the disabilities which was largely ignored in earlier Act.

Source: This post is based on the article “Indian researchers develop better therapeutics to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder” published in PIB on 17th November 2021.