Clue to Rett syndrome found

The biological mechanism behind Rett syndrome may be simpler than previously thought, researchers have claimed.
Scientists in Edinburgh say the condition, which is a rare type of autism, could be due to a faulty protein.
Professor Adrian Bird, of Edinburgh University who led the study, said: "This debilitating disorder is caused by a protein that is much more abundant in brain cells than we had realised and can therefore interact with the entire human genome, rather than with a few selected genes.
"It may be that, in Rett patients, many brain cells share a generic defect - which would mean this disease is less complicated than we feared."
He added that more work is needed to further investigate the findings of the study, which is published in the journal Molecular Cell.
Children with Rett syndrome often have serious speech and mobility problems.
According to the Rett Syndrome Association UK, the condition is usually undetected until major regression occurs at around one year of age, when children will lose acquired skills.