Researchers at UCLA have discovered that an FDA-approved drug reverses the brain dysfunction inflicted by a genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Because half of TSC patients also suffer from autism, the findings offer new hope for addressing learning disorders due to autism. The findings were published by Nature Medicine in its June 22 online edition.

Using a mouse model for TSC, the scientists tested rapamycin, a drug approved by the FDA to fight tissue rejection following organ transplants. Autism Speaks was one of the funders of the study. Read more about the study from Newswise.com and ScienceDaily.com.