A recent study by researchers at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) has uncovered a connection between chronic brain inflammation and repetitive behaviors commonly observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). 

The research focused on mice with a mutated NLRP3 gene, which led to prolonged activation of microglia — immune cells in the brain. This chronic inflammation resulted in the overactivation of NMDA glutamate receptors, crucial for excitatory neurotransmission, leading to repetitive behaviors and anxiety symptoms.

To address these behaviors, the team administered memantine, an FDA-approved Alzheimer’s medication, which normalized NMDA receptor activity and significantly reduced the repetitive behaviors in the mice. Additionally, blocking the activity of interleukin-1 receptors with interleukin-1RA suppressed the overactivity of NMDA receptors, further alleviating the behaviors.

These findings suggest that targeting brain inflammation could be a promising approach for treating repetitive behaviors in ASD and OCD. The use of existing FDA-approved drugs like memantine and interleukin-1RA may expedite the development of effective treatments, potentially improving the quality of life for individuals affected by these disorders.

Source: Medical Xpress