Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

Mice in Rett syndrome models showed a loss of brain volume before disease symptoms were evident, with brain shrinkage worsening over time, an MRI study showed. Delays in brain growth were observed in these mice, and brain growth stopped and appeared to reverse in older female Rett mice. Because…

A comprehensive 3D gait analysis found patients with Rett syndrome, ages 5-18, had a slow walking speed and shorter step length relative to girls without the rare neurodevelopmental disorder. The Rett patients also had wider step width and greater variability in gait features, as well as ataxia-like movements —…

Nerve cells derived from Rett syndrome patients showed alterations in structure, function, and network connectivity that depend on the severity of MECP2 genetic changes that cause the condition, a study revealed. Nerve cells from a rare atypical Rett patient with mild disease and preserved speech had similar core structural…

Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is partnering with PharmaTher to develop and commercialize ketamine for the treatment of Rett Syndrome. “We are pleased to have added the Rett syndrome program to our clinical-stage product pipeline that focuses on novel uses and delivery forms of ketamine in the…

Children with Rett syndrome whose disturbed breathing eased after treatment with mecasermin, a lab-made version of the growth hormone IGF-1, had unique gene activity profiles before and in response to treatment, according to an analysis of Phase 1 trial data. These findings suggest that different molecular subgroups were evident at…

Repeated and well-structured upper body training of girls and women with Rett syndrome improves reaching and grasping ability, attention span, and reduced repetitive movements, a study suggests These findings highlight the relationship between attention and motor abilities, which has implications for the development of motor rehabilitation programs for these…

Huda Zoghbi, MD, the neurologist who discovered the MECP2 gene that causes most Rett syndrome cases, has been awarded the 2022 Kavli Prize in the field of neuroscience. Her discovery of the Rett gene provided a straightforward genetic test that allows an early and accurate diagnosis of the rare neurodevelopmental…

Boys with Klinefelter syndrome, a genetic condition caused by an extra X chromosome, more frequently show Rett syndrome-like symptoms than previously recognized, according to a large-scale chromosomal study in boys with neurodevelopmental disorders. The researchers also showed that Rett-like symptoms occurred alongside Klinefelter syndrome mosaicism (KSM), in…

Taysha Gene Therapies has launched the clinical development of TSHA-102, an investigational gene therapy for Rett syndrome. The move follows the recent approval of a clinical trial application (CTA) by Health Canada. The Sainte-Justine Mother and Child University Hospital Center, in Montreal, will serve as the initial clinical…

Activating the mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors in the brain reversed learning deficits in a Rett syndrome mouse model, a study reported. The levels of both of these receptors were significantly lower in the brains of Rett mice, as well as Rett patients. These results support further investigation into mGlu2…