Rapamycin Reverses Autism-Like Symptoms in Mice | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 25, 2026 · 2m

New research from UCLA Health reveals that even mild maternal inflammation during pregnancy can cause lasting autism-like changes in offspring, affecting brain growth and sensory processing. But here’s the twist: a single dose of rapamycin in adult mice rapidly reversed these symptoms—normalizing neuron activity, reducing seizures, and easing repetitive behaviors. Though rapamycin isn’t safe for humans, the study’s breakthrough lies in its insight: the adult brain may be more adaptable than thought, and targeting functional brain circuits—not just structure—could unlock safer, smarter autism…