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Genetic, transcriptional and biochemical studies of the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate…
of intracellular calcium balance, potential pharmacologic interventions could
be postulated and possibly experimented in animal models.
Economic benefits – Based on current epidemiological data (8) , one can
assume a European autistic population of at least 200,000 patients. Approximately
75% are severely disabled and need institutional care for life, often
including a person engaged full-time to supervise the patient. The total cost for
autism in Europe can thus be estimated to exceed 4.4 billion euro/year. Assuming
that early pharmacological and psychotherapeutic intervention would
allow 10% of the patients to become independent from institutional care, this
would bring a saving of 440 million euro/year.
Scientific benefits – The identification of additional polymorphisms/mutations
predisposing to or directly causing the disease will significantly contribute
to our understanding of the neurobiological bases of social behaviors
in humans and to the nature of their alteration in autistic disorder.
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Bass M.P., McClain C., von Wendt L., Vance J.M., Abramson R.H., Wright H.H.,
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(2002) Am J Med Genet 114: 99-105.
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Buxbaum J.D. (2005) Expression and functional analysis of autism candidate genes:
the aspartate/glutamate carrier AGC1 Program No. 448.6. Viewer/Itinerary Planner.
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