PRIMARY STUDY

Alterations of the endocannabinoid system and its therapeutic potential in autism spectrum disorder

Key Findings:  Resulting data found that in cases of autistic children and rat models of ASD exhibited a reduction in endocannabinoids, increased degradation of enzymes and upregulation of endocannabinoid receptor sites. In animals, the researchers reported that the use of a selective inhibitor of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), the enzyme that metabolizes 2-AG, produced a subsequent reduction of repetitive behaviors, hyperactivity, sociability, social preference as well as an improvement in cognitive function. The authors posit that increasing 2-AG levels may are present a novel treatment option for this patient population.