Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have made an important discovery.
They found a connection between inflammation during childhood and the development of specific brain cells.
This could help explain the causes of certain neurodevelopmental disorders that affect many children.
Neurodevelopmental disorders are conditions that affect how the brain develops and functions. They usually start in early childhood and can last a lifetime. Examples include autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. These conditions can make it difficult for people to learn, talk, socialize, or manage emotions.
The brain is a very complex organ that begins developing early in pregnancy and continues growing through childhood. It contains billions of tiny cells called neurons, which help us think, move, and feel.
One part of the brain, called the cerebellum, is especially important. It helps control movement—like walking or writing—and is also involved in thinking, language, social interaction, and emotion.
In this new study, scientists looked at how inflammation—our body’s response to illness or injury—affects brain development in children. They studied the brains of children who had died from conditions that caused inflammation, such as infections or asthma.
They compared these brains to those of children who died in accidents and did not have inflammation.
The researchers used a powerful tool called single-cell genomics to study individual brain cells. They discovered that two specific types of neurons in the cerebellum—Golgi neurons and Purkinje neurons—were affected by inflammation.
– Golgi neurons help different cells in the cerebellum communicate with each other.
– Purkinje neurons link the cerebellum to other areas of the brain that control thinking and emotions.
In children who had experienced inflammation, these neurons did not develop the way they were supposed to. This improper development might help explain why some children go on to develop neurodevelopmental disorders.
This discovery is very important. It could lead to new ways to treat or even prevent conditions like autism and schizophrenia. Understanding how inflammation affects the brain gives researchers a new direction for developing treatments.
Neurodevelopmental disorders can have a big impact on children and their families. This study brings hope that with more research, we may be able to improve the lives of those affected.
The human brain is incredibly complex, and there is still so much to learn. But discoveries like this one bring us a step closer to understanding how to better support brain health in children.
The research findings were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
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