Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : October 8, 2014 10:19 AM IST
Conditions for autism may develop even before birth, in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, a new study has found. The study points to a disruption in the development of cortex, the outer layers of the brain which happens during the second and third trimester. For the study that involved post-mortem brain tissue, researchers examined donated samples from 11 children, aged between 2 and 16, with autism and equal number of children without the condition.(Read: 10 things every child with autism wishes you knew)
They used special techniques to detect and visualise specific types of neurons in the brain's outer layer. The scientists discovered dense patches in the cortex containing irregular shaped neurons residing in the wrong cortical layers, according to media reports. These patches were 5 to 7 millimetres (about 0.2 inches) long and were found in the frontal and temporal cortexes of 10 of the 11 children with autism but only one of the 11 unaffected children, the study claimed. (Read: Tackle Autism with early intervention)
'These patches are not like a lesion, or loss of cells. The cells are there, but they haven't become what they were supposed to, in the layer they were supposed to be in,' said Eric Courchesne, a professor of neuroscience in University of California, San Diego. The patches were found in frontal and temporal cortexes, areas that are important for social interaction and language, he added. The study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. (Read: Environmental factors linked to autism, intellectual disability)
What is autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder wherein the normal brain development is disrupted very early in life. Autistic spectrum disorder is an umbrella term to encompass all the neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Autism impacts communication, behaviour and social relationships and approximately 67 million people worldwide are estimated to be affected by it. It is the fastest growing global disorder. In this condition, cognition skills are hampered because of altered nerve cells, although the causative factor is unknown. A combination of genetics and the environment have been found to contribute to the development of autism. Symptoms differ from one child to the other. Autistic children have varying degrees of impairment in communication and socialization, and have various behavioural problems in the form of repetitive behaviour, restricted play interests and sometimes very unusual interests. (Read: Understanding autism its causes, symptoms and treatment)
With inputs from IANS
For more articles on autism, visit our autism section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
