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Motion · S6M-20237 · 17 Dec 2025

Research from the University of Aberdeen on Autism

Lodged by Kevin Stewart Standard Motion 17 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes the news that researchers from the University of Aberdeen have uncovered how genes linked to autism and intellectual disability may influence early brain development; notes that the study, published in Nature Communications, highlighted how different brain cell types, including neural stem cells, neurons and blood vessel cells, use the extracellular matrix (ECM) to communicate and coordinate their growth during brain development; understands that this work has mapped out, for the first time, how ECM-related genes behave in specific brain cell types and developmental stages, offering a new layer of understanding of how the brain’s structural environment emerges and functions during development; believes that this work will provide an important foundation for understanding the pathways involved in developmental brain conditions, such as ADHD, autism and intellectual disability; congratulates Dr Daniel Berg of the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, who co-led this study, and hopes that this work can guide efforts to create new therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental conditions.

Supporters (17)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.