A groundbreaking study by researchers at McGill University has revealed how disruptions in calcium transport in the brain are directly linked to autism and intellectual disability. Published in Nature, the findings not only challenge decades-old assumptions but also point toward promising new treatment approaches.
AMPA Receptors Found to Transport Calcium
As reported by news-medical.net, the research team discovered that AMPA receptors—tiny protein structures on brain cells—can transport calcium. This contradicts a long-standing belief in neuroscience that these receptors do not have this capability.
“Most people associate calcium with bone health, but in the brain, it plays a critical role as a signalling molecule that governs learning and memory,” explained Derek Bowie, Professor in McGill’s Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and senior author of the study. “Our study is the first to demonstrate that disruptions in calcium transport through AMPA receptors can lead to autism and intellectual disability.”
A Paradigm Shift in Neuroscience
For over three decades, scientists assumed AMPA receptors could not carry calcium—a conclusion reached long before the discovery of auxiliary “helper” proteins that modulate receptor function. Surprisingly, no one had challenged this belief until now.
To revisit this theory, the McGill team recreated AMPA receptors in the lab, this time incorporating the helper proteins to reflect their natural state in the brain. Professor Anmar Khadra modeled the experimental findings in collaboration with the team. He is from McGill’s Department of Physiology. Together, they discovered that AMPA receptors not only transport calcium but do so at significantly higher levels than previously thought.
Implications for Neurological Disorders
“This discovery means neuroscience textbooks will need to be rewritten to reflect our findings,” said Bowie.
Beyond autism and intellectual disability, AMPA receptors play a role in several other neurological disorders, such as ALS, glaucoma, dementia, and glioblastoma multiforme—a type of brain cancer. According to the researchers, targeting AMPA receptors could be a promising path for developing new drugs aimed at correcting calcium imbalances in the brain.
New Hope for Future Treatments
More than just a scientific milestone, the study opens a fresh therapeutic direction. “Most importantly, it offers a new strategy for developing treatments aimed at restoring proper calcium signaling,” Bowie added.
This breakthrough brings fresh hope for individuals living with various neurological conditions, as researchers continue to unravel the molecular complexities of the brain.