THE ROLE OF GENETIC DISORDERS IN THE FORMATION OF NEURAL NETWORKS IN AUTISM

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions with marked clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Modern molecular genetic studies confirm the key role of hereditary factors in the formation of pathological changes in neural networks. Genetic disorders affect the processes of synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, regulation of neuronal excitability, and interneuronal adhesion. Of particular importance are de novo mutations, variations in the number of gene copies, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and epigenetic changes that affect the expression of genes regulating the development of the central nervous system. The paper systematizes current data on the molecular mechanisms by which genetic defects disrupt the formation of neural networks and discusses the prospects for genetically oriented diagnostics and targeted therapy.