News Neuroscience

Nerve cells from people with autism grow unusually big and fast

Abnormal growth patterns might set the brain on a course to develop the disorder

nerve cells

SWIFT AND SURE  Nerve cells from people with autism that were grown in lab dishes grew larger and developed more quickly than nerve cells from people without the disorder (one shown).

Salk Institute

By Laura Sanders

- More than 2 years ago

Young nerve cells derived from people with autism are precocious, growing bigger and developing sooner than cells taken from people without autism, a new study shows.