scripod.com

Using Stem Cells to Cure Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia | Dr. Sergiu Pașca

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

Using Stem Cells to Cure Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia | Dr. Sergiu Pașca

Huberman Lab

2025/08/18

Using Stem Cells to Cure Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia | Dr. Sergiu Pașca

Using Stem Cells to Cure Autism, Epilepsy & Schizophrenia | Dr. Sergiu Pașca

Huberman Lab

Huberman Lab

2025/08/18

Overview Shownote Highlights Transcript Chapters Pins

Shownote

My guest is Dr. Sergiu Pașca, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. We discuss the biology and genetics of autism, why autism diagnoses are increasing and recent progress in using stem cells to understand and treat pro...

Highlights

In this episode, Dr. Sergiu Pașca, a leading expert in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, joins the discussion to explore the intricate biology and genetics behind autism and other brain disorders. The conversation delves into the challenges of understanding conditions that lack clear biological markers, while also highlighting groundbreaking advancements in stem cell research that are paving the way for new treatments.

05:22

Autism is behaviorally defined with no biological markers, leading to challenges in diagnosis and understanding.

07:25

The SRY gene may increase vulnerability to autism in males

18:08

Perturbing critical development periods can have devastating effects

18:53

Timothy syndrome is a genetic condition linked to autism, but no targeted therapies exist yet.

21:45

Autism's complexity involves genetic, environmental, and diagnostic factors

29:38

Human brain development continues into the third decade

34:46

CRISPR has shown success in treating non-human primate colorblindness.

46:33

Yamanaka discovered that four genes can reprogram skin cells into pluripotent stem cells

57:29

Reported improvements from stem cell injections are likely placebo effects or natural development.

1:10:34

Neurons in culture exhibit an intrinsic development timer that mimics brain maturation without external signals

1:17:41

Stimulating the cortex led to observable muscle contraction within weeks.

1:24:03

Faulty long-distance circuit interactions may explain complex disorders like autism

1:33:18

Proper reprogramming can remove age-related DNA methylation and fully rejuvenate cells.

1:43:38

Self-correction is fundamental in science and medicine, similar to engineering.

1:51:42

Human neurons in rats respond to sensory stimuli like whisker movement

1:58:00

The 22Q11.2 deletion is associated with multiple health issues and variable penetrance

2:02:36

Potential therapy for Timothy syndrome could be the first psychiatric disease treatment developed using human stem cell models.

2:17:21

Organoid research surpasses animal models in studying neurological and psychiatric diseases.

Chapters

Sergiu Pașca

00:00

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Incidence, Genetics

02:08

Is Autism More Common in Males?

07:16

Sponsors: David & Helix Sleep

09:35

Eye Contact in Babies, Fever; Proposed Causes of Autism; Genes

11:56

Genetic or Idiopathic Autism Diagnoses, Timothy Syndrome

18:48

Rise in Autism Diagnoses

21:37

Cause, Correlation & Neurological Disease; Schizophrenia, Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

26:46

Global Increase in Autism; Gene Therapy, CRISPR, Follistatin

31:34

Sponsors: AG1 & BetterHelp

41:05

Stem Cells, Ethics, Yamanaka Factors, Human Stem Cell Models

43:41

Umbilical Stem Cells; Stem Cell Injections & Dangers, Autistic Kids

52:03

Organoids, Modeling Brain Development, Intrinsic Development Timer

59:30

Assembloids, Brain Cell Migration & Circuit Formation, Self-Organization

1:12:22

Four-Part Assembloid, Sensory Assembloid, Pain Conditions

1:21:22

Sponsor: Function

1:25:45

Future Medical Therapies, Cell Banking, Immortalize Tissues, Rejuvenate Cells

1:27:33

Assembloids & Ethics, Importance of Nomenclature, Science Collaboration & Self-Correction

1:34:56

Cell Transplantation & Ethics, Timing

1:45:38

Genetic Testing for Parents, Genetic Penetrance

1:55:05

Assembloids, Timothy Syndrome, Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, Dystonia

2:02:36

Scientific Career, Walking, Art, Medical School

2:14:30

Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

2:20:44

Transcript

Andrew Huberman: Welcome to the Huberman Lab Podcast, where we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life. I'm Andrew Huberman, and I'm a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. My guest today is Dr. Sergi...