Neurodevelopmental disorders (I) Flashcards
Why is it difficult to study neurodevelopmental disorders?
You’re dealing with a child, controls are difficult
What are the two main symptoms of ADHD?
Excessive levels of activity
Distractibility and difficulty concentrating
What are the three subcategories of ADHD in the DSM-V?
Predominantly inattentive
Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive
Combined type
What was found about Dopaminergic areas in children with ADHD?
Frontal lobes, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, were all smaller
Do we know the etiology of ADHD with certainty?
No
How is ADHD treated?
Psychological treatment and supportive classroom structure
And
Drugs (antidepressants, kind of a comorbidity situation)
What is autism?
Developmental disability spectrum
Linked to a deletion in chromosome 16 (possibly linked with plasticity/pruning mechanisms)
Brains of autistic adults much larger than normal adults
What are symptoms of Autism?
Profound problems with the social world
Theory of mind
Communication deficits
Repetitive/ritualistic tasks
What are symptoms of Asperger’s Disorder?
Impairments in social interactions, and presence of restricted interests and activities
No clinically significant general delay in language
Average/above average intelligence
What is the clear physical characteristic of Angelman syndrome?
Developmental delay
Speech impairment
Movement or balance disorder
What are symptoms of Angelman syndrome?
Any combination of Frequent laughter Frequent smiling Apparent Happy demeanor Easily excitable Hypermotoric behavior Short attention span
SEIZURES
Sleep disturbance is most common
What is the genetic cause of Angelman syndrome?
Deletion of maternal chromosome 15
Ubiquitination system impaired
Ub is so important, leads to a host of impairments
What are symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome?
Distinct physical characteristics Intellectual Disability Behavior problems Seizures Strabismus
