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Scientists discover cells behind autistic brain overgrowth
Cells and genes found to influence infant brain development
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Monday 5th January 2026 |
Scientists have successfully grown 'mini brains' in a lab to pinpoint the cellular mechanisms responsible for brain overgrowth, a known early biomarker of autism.
Led by the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, the team collected blood samples from 18 individuals involved in the long-running Infant Brain Imaging Study.
By reprogramming white blood cells into pluripotent stem cells, they cultivated brain organoids-tiny 3D tissue structures that mimic the earliest stages of human brain development.
This innovative approach revealed that variations in two specific cell types are strongly linked to increased brain size: neural progenitor cells, which generate neurons, and choroid plexus epithelial cells, which support growth and repair.
Crucially, the gene expression within these lab-grown tissues accurately mirrored the actual brain size of the donors.
This validation establishes these organoids as a reliable model for future research.
The team is now utilising this technique to investigate how prenatal exposure to environmental toxins, such as valproic acid, might interact with genetic factors to alter neurodevelopment, potentially offering new insights into the biological roots of autism.
Source: MedicalXpress (USA)
https://medicalxpress.com/news/
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