Intellectual Disabilities Share Similar Disease Mechanisms

Brain disorders that are responsible for intellectual disabilities may share a common defect despite different genetic causes, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh studied two modles of mice with intellectual disabilities that showed similar disease mechanisms. From this, they found that a statin drug called Lovastatin--which is commonly used to treat high cholesterol--can correct high levels of protein production in the brain linked to intellectual disability and autism.

The first group of mice had a genetic mutation in which they produce lower levels of the protein SynGAP--resulting in learning and behavioral difficulties.

The group from the University's Patrick Wild Centre and Centre for Integrative Physiology found that treatment with Lovastatin normalized levels of protein production in the brains of the mice--suggesting that Lovastatin acts by reducing levels of the active form of a protein called ERK1/2.

They then compared their findings with the other group of mice that lack a protein called FMRP, which also causes cellular and behavioral changes that can be rescued with Lovastatin. Loss of FMRP leads to Fragile X Syndrome--the most common inherited form of intellectual disability and autism. 

However, further research is needed to determine whether the treatment can restore learning and development in people.

The study is published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

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