A new study from scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has uncovered a surprising connection that could help explain why some children develop brain-related conditions such as autism and schizophrenia.
The researchers found that inflammation in childhood—a common response when the body fights infections or deals with conditions like asthma—can affect how brain cells grow and develop.
This discovery gives scientists new insight into how neurodevelopmental disorders may begin. These disorders, which include autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia, often cause lifelong challenges with communication, learning, behavior, and emotional control.
While some signs of these conditions can be seen in early childhood, their exact causes are still not fully understood. This study brings us one step closer to finding answers.
The human brain starts developing before birth and continues growing throughout childhood and the teenage years. It’s made up of billions of tiny cells called neurons that send messages to one another to help us think, move, and feel.
One important part of the brain is the cerebellum. While many people think the cerebellum only helps with movement, it also plays a big role in social skills, emotions, and thinking.
The researchers in this study wanted to understand how inflammation affects the cerebellum. Inflammation is a natural reaction the body uses to fight off threats like bacteria or viruses. But when it happens too often or at the wrong time, it can also cause harm.
To study this, the team looked at the brains of children who had died from conditions involving inflammation, such as infections. They compared these brains with those of children who had died from accidents, where there was no sign of inflammation. Using powerful tools, they were able to take a close look at the brain cells and see how they had developed.
What they found was striking. In the brains of children who had experienced inflammation, two types of brain cells in the cerebellum—called Golgi and Purkinje neurons—had not developed properly. These cells are extremely important.
Golgi neurons help brain cells inside the cerebellum talk to each other, while Purkinje neurons connect the cerebellum to other parts of the brain that control thinking and emotions. If these cells don’t form correctly, it could lead to problems in how the brain works.
This research suggests that inflammation in early life could interrupt the brain’s development and possibly increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. It’s a major discovery because it gives doctors and scientists a clearer idea of where and how things might go wrong in the brain—and what we might be able to do about it.
Understanding that inflammation can impact brain development opens the door to new treatments. If doctors can find ways to reduce or manage inflammation early in life, they might be able to prevent or lessen the effects of some brain disorders. This could be life-changing for many children and families.
While there is still a lot more to learn, this study is a hopeful sign. It shows how studying the brain in detail can help us find real answers to difficult questions.
Every new discovery brings us closer to better care, better treatment, and better futures for children with brain-related conditions. Science continues to give us the tools to better understand the brain—and that understanding is the key to helping people live healthier, happier lives.
If you care about autism, please read studies that cats may help decrease anxiety for kids with autism and new study may develop better treatment for autism
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how to eat your way to a healthy brain, and results showing this type of food may contribute to autism.
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