Week 12 - Neurodevelopmental Disorders Flashcards
What is a type of abnormality of anatomical development?
Hydrocephaly
What is hydrocephaly?
Abnormal build up of cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) in the ventricles of the brain
What are some genetic and chromosomal disorders?
Turner’s syndrome
Williams syndrome
What are acquired neurodevelopmental disorders?
Fetal alcohol syndrome
What is Turner’s syndrome?
Partial or total deletion of X chromosome affecting females
Do not develop secondary sex characteristics, short stature, other physical features
Comorbid with learning disabilities and behavioural symptoms
Low-average IQ
What are some treatments for Turner’s syndrome?
Growth and sex hormone therapy
What is Williams syndrome?
Distinct physical features
Sociable, empathetic, talkative
Remarkable language abilities for characteristically low IQs
What are some strengths of people with WIlliams syndrome?
Sociable, empathetic, talkative
Remarkable language abilities for characteristically low IQs
Other cognitive strengths include near-perfect pitch, a sense of rhythm and a remarkable ability to recognise faces
What problems are associated with Williams syndrome?
Severe attentional problems,
poor spatial abilities
Difficulty drawing objects
What are the brain changes associated with Williams syndrome?
General thinning of cortex
- Boundary of parietal and occipital lobes
- Orbitofrontal cortex
Spared in superior temporal gyrus (auditory cortex)
Why may people with Williams syndrome have a remarkable sense of pitch and rhythm?
No deficits in superior temporal gyrus (auditory cortex)
What is fetal alcohol syndrome?
characteristic physical features
microcephaly, low birth weight, reduced growth
Poor muscle tone and coordination
Below average IQ, inattention, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, poor behavioural regulation
What are some communication neurodevelopmental disorders?
Language disorder
Speech sound disorder
Childhood onset fluency disorder (stuttering)
Social (pragmatic) communication disorder
What are some motor neurodevelopmental disorders?
Developmental coordination disorder
Stereotypical movement disorder
Tic disorder
What are the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder?
Reduced capacity for social interaction and communication
Restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or other activities
What are the early signs of autism in infants?
poor eye contact
poor response to name
lack of showing and sharing
no gesturing by 12 months
loss of language or social skills
What are the early signs of autism in pre-school-aged children?
Limited pretend play
odd or intensely focused interests
rigidity
What are the early signs of autism in school-aged children?
Concrete literal thinking
trouble understanding emotions
lack conversational skills or appropriate social approach
What is the genetic basis of autism?
heritability 50%
many genes identified
gene-environment interaction
What are the environmental factors of autism?
Perinatal or birth complications
parental age
exposure to infection, pollution, pesticide, nutritional factors
What did Pinel describe as the neural mechanisms in autism?
Variability in underlying neural correlates
Post mortem and structural studies implicate cerebellum, amygdala, frontal and temporal cortex, white matter connectivity
What are the structural findings of autism?
Enlarged brain volume
Increased volume in frontal and temporal lobes
Reduced cortical thickness in the temporal cortex
Increased cortical thickness in the frontal cortex
Fewer/smaller neurons in cerebellum and frontal and temporal cortices
Smaller subcortical volume, greater volume in caudate nucleus
Excess white matter and disrupted connectivity between areas
What are the functional findings of autism?
Mixed findings of increased and decreased glucose metabolism and blood flow compared to control
often limbic, frontal and temporal areas
What are the treatments for autism?
Intensive learning experiences and behavioural interventions in early childhood
No recommended pharmacological treatment for core symptoms
antipsychotics and prescription stimulants sometimes prescribed for other symptoms
