Dr. Adrian Bird and his colleges expected to be disappointed by the results of their experiment, but they had to check, just in case. Instead, the results turned out to be rather astonishing.
Rett Syndrome is the most physically disabling disease on the autistic spectrum. Dr. Bird knew that Rett Syndrome is caused when the Mecp2 gene malfunctions and the brain’s neurons get encoded with a mutated version of the MeCP2 protein. Everyone expected the neuronal defects to be permanent and irreversible.
To test that theory, Dr. Bird bred mice with Mecp2 turned off. As expected, the mice were disabled by Rett Syndrome. However, when he reactivated the Mecp2, he was shocked that most of the Rett Syndrome symptoms cleared up. Even adult mice disabled for their entire lives quickly became normal mice.
The really good news is that Rett Syndrome is an autistic spectrum disorder. Mutated MeCP2 has been found in the related conditions, and they may be also be reversible:
- Autism
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Huntington’s Disease
- Bipolar Disorder
- Childhood Schizophrenia
I wonder how it it would effect those of us on the high functioning end of the autistic spectrum who actually get some benefits from it. Until I read about MeCP2 I didn’t realize that bipolar disorder was related, but apparently it is. I have a bipolar friend who is a great artist. He likes to say, and occasionally demonstrate, that every gift comes at a cost. His creativity is balanced by deep depressions and manic periods. He swings between the two opposing states of mind and loses touch with reality at each end. My friend has taken medication to even him out in the past, but he quit years ago because he doesn’t want to miss out on the highs and his creative gift. He can easily see the harm caused by the depressions, but it’s impossible for him to see the harm done by the manic side. From his viewpoint, a “cure” to his condition is bad news. From his wife’s point of view, it’s good news. From society’s standpoint, is it good or bad?
Will this discovery give us the choice between being a great artist or being healed? Would Daniel Tammet lose his amazing math abilities? Would Kim Peak lose the ability to remember everything he reads? Would Temple Grandin lose her ability to identify with animals? Would MeCP2 turn Van Gogh into an accountant?
