Janet;
I have often posed this question myself. As you probably already
know there have been a number of experiments where normal
cerebellar tissue has been transplanted into the cerebellum of
the 'Weaver' mutant mouse producing an improvement in motor
behavior. In autism, a severe developmental disorder, two
independant autopsy studies conducted at Boston Hospital and at
UCLA have reported early Purkinje neuron loss in 100% of cases.
There are now sixteen autopsy and MRI studies published by nine
independant research groups throughout the world that have now
reported early cerebellar damage (Purkinje neuron loss) in 240
cases of autism. There is no cure for autism therefore why should
not the neuroscientists begin this debate now. I know that in
Parkinson's disease there have been some excellent studies
showing improvement in some cases after transplantation of fetal
neurons from the substantia nigra, thus human experiments
involving disorders of the cerebellum, including autism, is
certainly ready for an open discussion. Thanks for raising this
important issue.
Bob Jensen (not a neuroscientist)