Scientists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered a link between inflammation in children and how certain brain cells grow.
This new finding could help explain why some children develop conditions like autism and ADHD.
Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), affect how a child’s brain develops. These conditions can make it harder for children to learn, talk, or get along with others. Knowing what causes these disorders may lead to better treatments or ways to prevent them.
The brain begins developing before birth and keeps growing during childhood and teenage years. It’s made up of billions of neurons—tiny brain cells that help us move, think, and feel. One important part of the brain is the cerebellum. It helps control movement but also plays a role in emotions, thinking, and language.
In this study, scientists looked at how inflammation—our body’s natural response to infections or injuries—affects brain development, especially in the cerebellum. They studied brain tissue from children who had died from illnesses that caused inflammation and compared it to tissue from children who had died in accidents.
Using advanced tools, they found that in children with inflammation, some brain cells in the cerebellum didn’t grow properly. These cells, called Golgi and Purkinje neurons, are very important for the brain’s job.
Golgi neurons help brain cells talk to each other. Purkinje neurons connect the cerebellum with other parts of the brain that help with emotions and thinking. When these cells don’t develop the right way, it might raise the chances of having disorders like autism or ADHD.
This discovery gives doctors and researchers a new way to look at how these disorders might start. It suggests that inflammation in early life could play a big part in changing how the brain grows.
If scientists can find ways to reduce inflammation in children who are at risk, they might be able to prevent or reduce the effects of these conditions.
There is still a lot to learn about how the brain develops, but this study helps us understand more. The research was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine and shows the importance of keeping the brain healthy.
As scientists keep studying this link, they may discover new treatments to help children with developmental challenges live better lives.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
