Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex syndrome, characterized by poor social interaction, poor language, and stereotyped and repetitive behavior. In addition, a high number of individuals with ASD exhibit altered sleep regulation, increased anxiety behavior and impaired cognitive functions such as learning and memory. The study of ASD has been focused in children and young people and despite the huge number of people with ASD are adult and elderly, little is known about the impact of the aging on this age group. Considering that life expectancy is increased in normal population and that some cognitive dysfunctions are associated to aging, it is important to known if the hallmark features of ASD are ameliorated or impaired with aging. Studies relating ASD and aging are scarce and controversial.
Drosophila is an excellent model for genetic studies and has been widely used as a model organism to study aging, social interaction, sleep behavior, and cognitive functions like learning and memory. The mushroom bodies and the adult neuromuscular junction in Drosophila have been useful as neuronal substrates to evaluate age-related connectivity changes and synaptic remodeling in model of human neurodevelopmental disorders. My current research is focused in to understand the impact of the aging in ASD, using old Drosophila models of ASD that exhibit defects in regulation of synaptogenesis, dysfunction in the dopaminergic system and defects in sensory process. These genes have been linked to ASD, however how these genes/proteins are involved in aging process in ASD and how these are linked to the pathogenic mechanism remains elusive.