Researchers Find Mouse Mirroring Autism

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The first transgenic mouse model of a rare and severe type of autism is expected to improve understanding of the disorder and help researchers design more targeted treatments.

The mouse exhibits not only the repetitive physical behaviors, altered social behaviors, and impaired communication abilities associated with Timothy Syndrome (TS), a severe and rare form of autism, but also mirrors behaviors linked to autism spectrum disorder in general, a surprising and encouraging findings, researchers say.

“This animal and the syndrome that it is associated with provides one of the best chances to understand the underlying mechanisms of autism,” because the link between the two is very strong, says Randall Rasmusson, professor of physiology and biophysics at the University at Buffalo.