PSY 3301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Autism Spectrum, Epilepsy, Language Disorder
Document Summary
Autism is a spectrum of severe neurodevelopmental disorders, frequently consisting of profound language impairment, repetitive motor behaviours, impaired socialization, sensory disturbances, severely restricted interests and self injury. Originally thought to be attributed to environmental in uences. Through autopsies there is evidence for it being a de nable systemic disorder involving a number of factors that may affect brain development (pre and post natally) Autism patients have enlarged brains before age 5. Genetic factors, identical twin credence of 60% Family of disorders, resulting from genetic sensitivity to intrauterine or early post-natal exposure to a variety of environmental toxic or infective factors. More likely to be a genetic sensitivity to environmental factors such as organic compounds resulting in oxidative stress. Elevated free radicals, reductions in detoxifying gets, antioxidant metal binding proteins, and impairments in brain methylation pathways. Immunological abnormalities: cause increased innate neuroin ammatory response and anti-bran bodies. Role of diet and gut function in autism spectrum disorders.