Question: How would a neurodevelopmental disorder affect someone

Elena Lazarova answered on 10 Jun 2020:

Hi Will, thank you for your question!
A neurodevelopmental disorder affects the brain development of a patient. These disorders happen when a ‘de novo’ (new) mutation is formed when the patient is very young. The mutation sometimes is found in all cells but mostly affects brain cells as they tend to be more susceptible to mutations that change protein quantity or cellular processes. The effects on the cells vary depending on the mutation – they might conduct information poorly, not form many connections, not be insulated properly, and many others. Patients that have their neurons and other brain cells not working properly can have a variety of symptoms – slower learning, intellectual disability, speech impairments, seizures, changes to brain/skull structure, aggressive behaviour. Overall, patients will live a very different from normal life and so far there is no cure for many neurodevelopmental disorders.