Autism is a severe mental health condition that is believed to have a close association with behavioral complications. In other words, autism indicates a spectrum of developmental disorders of poor social as well as verbal interaction. Up till now, science has not succeeded to develop medications that can treat its actual causes. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, there is no medication exists to target its causes.

As an attempt to understand complications of an autistic brain, a team of scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine has carefully analyzed cells from patients living with a rare genetic condition named as Timothy syndrome that is believed to have a close association with certain types of autism. It is already known that people living with the Timothy syndrome mutation are likely to possess a number of complications, including some symptoms of autism.

During the study, the experts identified that a gene mutation, which is believed to be responsible for making calcium channels in neuron membranes defective and interfering with mechanism of neurons communication and development, plays a key role to cause autism among patients with Timothy syndrome. In addition, they also observed that the flow of calcium into neurons is an essential factor responsible for brain functioning.

An expert from the Stanford University’s National Institute of Mental Health, Ricardo Dolmetsch said: “Studying the consequences of a single mutation, compared to multiple genes with small effects, vastly simplifies the task of pinpointing causal mechanisms”. An NIH Director's Pioneer Award has funded his research partially.

On the other hand, the National Autistic Society has applauded the outcome of latest research, although it warned that that they did not necessarily talked about every form of autism.