David Ledbetter is chief clinical officer of Dascena, a personalized medicine company.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ledbetter-David-.jpg)
David Ledbetter
Chief clinical officer
Dascena
From this contributor
There are no autism-specific genes, just brain genes
There is not yet a single example of a gene that, when mutated, increases the likelihood of autism but not of other neurodevelopmental conditions, including intellectual disability.
![Brain made of DNA strands on a background of molecule shapes](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/20210323-Ledbetter-844.jpg)
There are no autism-specific genes, just brain genes
Developmental disorders should be viewed as continuum
Intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia should be considered part of a spectrum of developmental brain dysfunction, says David Ledbetter.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130507viewpointledbetter.jpg)
Developmental disorders should be viewed as continuum
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![Illustration of ketamine blocking open ion channels in active NMDA receptors, quieting the cells and disrupting downstream signaling involved in depression.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200-ketamine-receptor-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.