Propanolol May Reduce Autism Symptoms?

A small preliminary study shows that the anti-hypertensive drug Propanolol may help autistic individuals improve language and social function. Propanolol is a beta blocker widely used to address hypertension and anxiety-related problems such as stage fright.
The study was conducted in the University of Missouri, Columbia and was headed by David Beversdorf M.D and colleagues. Because Propanolol has ability to relieve anxiety and reverse effects of stress and autism is thought to be caused by rigid brain networks, researchers postulated that the drug might work for people with the disorder.
Previous studies have found out that Propanolol helps improve problem solving abilities in regards to word puzzles and improve fluency. To see if this would still work to people with autism, Dr. Beversdorf studied 14 high-functional individuals with autism and 14 normal individuals as controls. All were given fluency tests each after administration of placebo and 40 mg Propanolol in a double-blind, counterbalanced manner.
The result is participants with autism scored higher on fluency tests after being given with Propanolol.
The good results, researchers say, warrant another bigger and more comprehensive study such as additional participants and employment of brain imaging studies to further replicate and confirm the effect.

Here is the link for the original article:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/751073?src=rss