U-of-L Researcher Shows New Link Between Dyslexia, Autism

A University of Louisville neuroscientist has research published today in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders that establishes a new link between autism and dyslexia.Dr. Manuel Casanova says he conducted his research on human brains through autopsies.He says researchers previously considered autism and dyslexia problems with brain development or size, but his research shows otherwise.“That’s almost like a paradigm shift. It’s a different perspective of looking at the problem," says Casanova. “But now we’re thinking about circuitry. The thing that joins autism and dyslexia together is circuitry.”In fact, Casanova says in terms of brain circuitry, autism and dyslexia are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Therefore, he says, they’re working to develop new treatments for dyslexia that model existing autism treatments, but that work in the opposite way.