A method of treating autism spectrum disorders using a therapeutic amount of a synthetic amino acid sequence corresponding to a portion of human ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). In particular, the synthetic amino acid sequence is VGDGGLFEKKL (SEQ ID NO: 1), referred to as Peptide 6. Peptide 6 was tested and shown to exert a neuroprotective effect by modulating CNTF/JAK/STAT pathway and LIF signaling and enhancing brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression.
