Closing in on Rett syndrome
Study shows that location in the brain matters when it comes to the syndrome
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 A study released in the Sept. 25 Neuron is a major step toward identifying the brain regions behind the behaviors that characterize Rett syndrome, a debilitating, autism-like neurological disease that primarily affects females.
The syndrome is marked by a constellation of symptoms, the most striking of which is repetitive hand wringing. Behavioral symptoms of the syndrome include a lack of language skills, muscle rigidity that imparts a characteristic tremor, high anxiety and, in some cases, excessive aggression.