Science Current Events: Winter 2018

By Ester Teper

Autism Cure Lies with Cancer Treatments
    Several social disabilities and insecurities come with being on the autism spectrum, but new studies suggest that targeting of specific genes using an anti-cancer drug can alleviate the symptoms of Autism completely. Romidepsin, an FDA-approved anti-cancer drug, restored normal behavior in animal models of ASD (autism spectrum disorder). Mice that were deficient in Shank 3, a gene that was identified in being a part of triggering ASD, were treated with romidepsin and had sustainable cures for three weeks by restoring normal Shank 3 function. Due to the fact the ASD is an epigenetic disease as well, scientists had to use histone modifiers (proteins that attach to DNA) to cause this change, and understand that the solution will not work in all cases.

Alcohol and Dementia
    A study that looked at the effect of alcohol use disorders found that 57% of cases of early-onset dementia were related to chronic heavy drinking. This strong association between the two conditions is cause for change in regulations to possibly reduce alcohol-attributable dementia. Early-onset dementia is the type that will begin before the age of 65, and usually results in premature death. The brain damage caused by alcohol consumption is preventable and can extend a person’s life by about 20 years. They also found a significant difference between the two genders: more women have dementia, but 64.9% of early-onset dementia are men. This risk was also associated with tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and more.

Neanderthals and Emotions
    A new study finds evidence that Neanderthals had a very effective and emotion-based healthcare system. The University of York conducted this study and found that the healthcare was calculated, but highly effective: the species would care for the injured based on the emotions sparked on sight. This challenges the notion that Neanderthals were brutish and lacking of human emotions; it actually shows how they genuinely cared for the members of their communities. Evidence was found showing long-term monitoring, massages, fever management, and other care. One specific instance was of a middle-aged male with a degenerative disease in his spine and shoulders. Nevertheless, the burial suggests intense care. The results of this study suggest the importance of emotions in human history and how they are often overlooked.

Link: www.sciencedaily.com