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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Some children with autism may also have a genetic defect that causes muscle weakness.
Research identified a subset of autistic children who also had a genetic defect, which causes mitochondrial disease.
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Mitochondrial disease occurs when genetic mutations affect the part of the cell that releases energy known as the mitochondria. The defect weakens muscles and prevents a child from being able to participate in physical activity or sports.
Most children with autism spectrum disorders do not have recognizable abnormalities when you look at genetic tests, imaging and metabolic tests, study author John Shoffner, M.D., owner of Medical Neurogenetics, LLC in Atlanta, was quoted as saying. But in his small study, which looked at 37 children, 65 percent of them had defects in the process by which cells produce and synthesize energy in the muscles.
Identifying this defect is important for understanding how genes witch produce autism spectrum disorders impact the function of the mitochondria, Dr. Shoffner went on to say.
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SOURCE: Presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 60th Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12-19, 2008
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
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