Disturbed Growth in Early Life and Later Neurocognitive Development Associated with Psychiatric Disorders

摘要: Accumulating evidence from neurobiological and epidemiological studies indicates that altered development caused by environmental factors in early life, especially the gestational period, may lead to of physical illnesses adulthood such as type II diabetes cardiovascular diseases. However, recent have suggested growth associated with adverse events around time birth is a factor contributes cognitive dysfunction well psychiatric disorders adulthood, including autism spectrum (ASDs), mood disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Environmental placental dysfunction, maternal malnutrition during pregnancy, psychological distress pregnant mothers, infections both postnatal been alterations gene expression regulated epigenetic factors. These proposed trigger permanent changes programming neural cells, whereby processes cell proliferation migration, neuronal growth, synaptogenesis, myelination would be grossly affected; result, individuals predisposed various neurocognitive impairments turn can specific neuropsychiatric disorders. In this chapter, we describe association between disturbances life subsequent development, will focus particular on detrimental events, those involving nutritional factors, affect central nervous system (CNS) sequelae (i.e., disorders) damage. Continued examination mechanisms underlying associations disturbed consequences expected yield better understanding pathophysiology many