neurodevelopment

BackgroundAdequate maternal micronutrient status during pregnancy may play an important role in fetal neurodevelopment. Emerging evidence suggests that deficiencies in vitamin B12, vitamin D, and folic acid, often exacerbated by modern dietary patterns characterized by high consumption of ultra-processed foods, may adversely affect cognitive, motor, and behavioral outcomes in offspring. Despite g…

A new study in Nature reveals that a specific non-coding genetic sequence shapes the core social and repetitive traits of autism in males. The discovery separates these hallmark behaviors from intellectual disability, leaving learning and memory intact.

BackgroundMonocular enucleation, the surgical removal of one eye, occurs early in life and leads to changes in visual, auditory, and audiovisual processing in adulthood. These changes can be observed behaviorally, as well as through cortical structure and white matter connectivity of visual and auditory pathways. Subcortically, the thalamus is a critical sensory processing structure that modulate…

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a major early-life stressor associated with long-lasting neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive alterations. Increasing evidence from human studies indicates that PAE leaves persistent molecular signatures that can be detected in the placenta and in clinically accessible biological fluids. This Mini Review summarizes recent advances in the identification of epige…

A new study suggests that stressful childhood environments may be linked to an evolutionary trigger that coincides with a teenager's brain maturing and thinning faster. Conversely, living in resource-rich neighborhoods is associated with a slower, more flexible brain development process.

IntroductionInfants with an older sibling with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (EL-AutSib) and infants with tuberous sclerosis complex (EL-TSC), a genetic neurodevelopmental syndrome highly associated with ASD, exhibit motor and other developmental differences in the first year of life. Despite the prevalence of gross motor impairments in these populations and the need for early clinical monitorin…

IntroductionGABAergic interneurons (IN) are critical for the precise timing and flow of information in cortical circuits. Loss of GABAergic IN function has been suggested as a potential translationally relevant mechanism of neuropathology in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). Indeed, in rodent models of FXS, some IN populations may display reduced number, while genes associated with other IN type upregula…

Mammalian neocortical development follows a precise spatiotemporal sequence to generate the organized structure responsible for higher-order cognition and behavior. Increasing evidence suggests that diversification of neural stem and progenitor cells during prenatal development is a key step in the emergence of the intricate circuitry and functional architecture of the cerebral cortex. This revie…

A "foundational" study found that the brains of children with ADHD matured later, but that finding was likely a mirage tied to issues with how the children were followed over time.

Late preterm birth, occurred between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation, constitutes a risk factor for neurodevelopment. Despite being initially considered as a near term group of newborns, late preterm infants have shown dysfunctions in cerebral connectivity and in learning at school age. This mini-review will summarize key findings of latest studies about altered brain connectivity and cognition in t…

A research team from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology), in collaboration with the IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini in Genoa (Italy), has demonstrated that traumatic experiences occurring at specific stages of life - particularly from childhood through the early years following adolescence - have persistent effects on brain development and adult behavior.

Brain development from fetal life to early childhood occurs in highly sensitive periods, during which stress exposure—adaptive or toxic, prenatal or postnatal—can shape neural circuits involved in emotional regulation, particularly amygdala-centered networks. This review synthesizes current evidence on the biological mechanisms of early-life stress and protective interventions. It is based on a n…

Children with epilepsy have a higher risk of also having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A new study in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology examined factors associated with the co-occurrence of autism and epilepsy in a large population-based group.

BackgroundAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is primarily characterized by differences in communication and social interaction, but motor impairments are also commonly observed, often emerging in early childhood. Understanding these motor characteristics may contribute to earlier identification and intervention. This study aimed to compare walking kinematics between autistic and non-autistic preschoo…

The study identifies critical windows of metal exposure via baby teeth, revealing impacts on brain development and behavior in children and adolescents.

A systematic review reveals adolescent cannabis use alters brain structure, elevates addiction risk, and impacts cognitive outcomes during critical development.

Background and hypothesisCannabis use initiation during adolescence has increased globally, raising concerns about neurodevelopmental consequences during this critical period when the brain undergoes extensive remodeling in cannabinoid receptor-rich regions.Study designThis systematic review examines neurodevelopmental consequences of adolescent cannabis use, focusing on structural brain changes,…

IntroductionSchizophrenia (SCZ) is a highly heritable neuropsychiatric disorder. Its genomic architecture reportedly overlaps with that of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the effect of genomic risk for ADHD and ASD on SCZ symptoms remains unclear.MethodWe obtained genome-wide association study (GWAS…

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai report that early-life exposure to common environmental metals may influence brain development and behavioral health more than a decade later.