New therapeutic targets identified for Rett syndrome

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has described the potential for reversing the genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, Rett syndrome, by targeting specific genes. Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (WA, USA) have identified 30 genes that could be utilized to reactivate the inactive X chromosome that is silenced in the disorder. Rett syndrome affects approximately 15,000 girls in the USA and 350,000 across the globe. Currently, there is no treatment for the rare autism spectrum disorder, which causes a backsliding in development. Lead scientist on this new study Antonio Bedalov (Fred Hutchinson Cancer...