Lifting the Mood on Treating Fragile X

Abstract

Only a decade ago, it was believed that a genetic diagnosis of intellectual disability and autism offered little in the way of hope for a medical treatment to lessen the burden on the affected individuals and their families. However, recent research aimed at understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of ASD has ushered in a new era of targeted treatment strategies. Studies in fragile X syndrome (FXS) have been at the forefront of this revolution, and they are forging a path that could define future approaches to the treatment of ASD.