PSYCH 2AP3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Gestational Age, Comorbidity, Epigenetics
7 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
High rate of seizure activity (33%), especially the females. Volume of the brain is slightly larger, as well as the ventricle size. This occurs mostly in infancy and early childhood, and tend to be less noticeable. Excessive connections in frontal and prefrontal cortex and reduced connectivity with that part of the brain and the other parts. Interest in dopaminergic systems: role of dopamine in movement problems, dopamine-blocking agents in treatment, research is minimal. 1/3 of asd patients show elevated levels of serotonin in the blood. Synthesis normally down by age 5; in autism, rises to 150% of normal adult level between ages 2 and 15 years. 65-75% chance if one twin has it that another will. 3-10% chance is a sibling has it than another will. Fragile x, pku, congenital rubella, chromosome 15 duplication. Social communication impairments in 20% of siblings. Genes may not produce full spectrum of symptoms, but may produce lower level variations.
