“Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities”—-these are noted in one of the DSM-IV criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. A study published in the December 10th Neuron has found that reducing the activity of the gene FKBP12 in the brains of mice affected their synapses, and increased obsessive behavior and “fearful memory.” As noted in today’s Science Daily:

The protein FKBP12 regulates several important cell signaling pathways, and decreasing its activity enhances long-term potentiation in the hippocampus, said Dr. Susan Hamilton, chair of molecular physiology and biophysics at [Baylow College of Medicine] and a senior author of the report. (Long-term potentiation means the enhancement of the synapse or communication between neurons.)

It accomplishes this by fine-tuning a particular pathway called mTOR signaling (mammalian target of rapamycin). The mice in whose brains the activity of the gene was reduced had longer memories and were more likely to exhibit repetitive behaviors than normal mice.

Researchers suggest that their findings might lead to the develop of drugs for autism and also for obsessive compulsive disorders.

Although—-what about the use of such repetitive actions to calm and self-soothe?

Today’s ABC News reports on the difficulty of getting a diagnosis of autism. 29-year-old Jason Ross was 25 when he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome; his mother, Lois Ross, describes how he was first said to have speech delay, attention deficit disorder, “psychosis not otherwise specified,” obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. You can also read Ross’s own words on his blog, Drive Mom Crazy.

Update, 3.10pm: For a transcript of the Town Hall forum, you can go here.

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Today from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., the NYU Child Study Center is holding an Online Town Hall on Children’s Mental Health. Details can be found here; registration starts at 9 a.m. today and commenters have contributed thoughts on what to address in the forum. How can we improve awareness and care for individuals with conditions like autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, bulimia, OCD, depression, and in ways that do not simply denounce and shame people? How can we advertise not fear, but hope?

Back in December, the New York University Child Study Center launched a public awareness advertisement campaign called “Ransom Notes,” in which. The campaign was pulled a few weeks later, in no small part due to the work of disability rights advocacy groups, parents, and many concerned individuals, who questioned the negative portrayal of autism and psychiatric disorders by the “Ransom Notes” campaign. On Tuesday, February 26, 2008 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., the NYU Child Study Center is holding an Online Town Hall on Children’s Mental Health. Details can be found here. How can we improve awareness and care of these issues, in ways that do not simply denounce and shame those with conditions like autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, bulimia, OCD, depression?