Coming just days after a major study on Autism was released by the CDC (see previous blog post), the results of another autism study were announced today.

Read about the study here.  The study found a link between Austim and a specific gene: neurexin 1.  "A previously unidentified area of chromosome 11" was also implicated.  Neurexin 1 is involved with glutamate.  I did a very basic search on google "neurexin 1 gluten" to see if this gene could be linked to the success some people with autism have had on gluten-free diets.  I invite comments from readers who did better in High School Chemistry than me.  Please decipher the google results.  Until then I am encouraged by the number of links,  suggesting there is some connection.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the non-profit, Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks is also behind the arresting ad you may have seen recently:

I am thrilled by the dramatic potential to use these results in therapies someday.   I am warmed by the devotion shown by the 120 scientists in Europe and America who collaborated to complete the five-year study that included more than 1,000 families. 

Kudos to everyone involved.  Bravo!