When do neurodevelopmental disorders typically begin?

Typical onset occurs in childhood and before puberty while the brain is still developing; prevalence estimates range from 5% to 10% of the population.

What causes neurodevelopmental disorders?

Causes include congenital (genetic, metabolic), prenatal (maternal infection, nutrition), perinatal (birth complications, hypoxia) and postnatal factors (trauma, infections, toxins), though many cases have unknown etiology.

What are common types of neurodevelopmental disorders?

DSM-5 categories include intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific learning disorders, communication disorders, and global developmental delay.

How are neurodevelopmental disorders treated?

Treatment depends on disorder and symptoms; options include pharmacological therapies and non-pharmacological interventions such as behavioral therapy, psychosocial support, and neuropsychological rehabilitation to build skills and supports.

Can neurodevelopmental disorders persist into adulthood and co-occur?

Many disorders persist lifelong, though some adults benefit from treatment; co-occurrence is common, for example ASD often coexists with ADHD or intellectual disability.

Neurodevelopmental disorders: definition, types and treatment

Q: What are neurodevelopmental disorders?

Neurodevelopmental disorders are heterogeneous conditions marked by delayed or disrupted development of motor, social, language, or cognitive skills, affecting functioning across childhood and sometimes beyond.

Neurodevelopmental disorders affect between 5% and 10% of the population, with a typical onset in childhood and before puberty, a period in which the brain is still developing.

Any factor that alters the complex process of brain development can cause the individual not to exhibit a typical neurological development.

In a significant percentage of cases, the manifestations of the disorder persist throughout the person’s life. However, recent research suggests there are reasons for optimism regarding the treatment of some neurodevelopmental disorders in adulthood.

What are neurodevelopmental disorders?

Neurodevelopmental disorders are “a group of heterogeneous conditions characterized by a delay or disruption in the acquisition of skills across a variety of developmental domains including motor, social, language, and cognition” (Thapar, Cooper and Rutter, 2016).

The great diversity within neurodevelopmental disorders is reflected in the fact that some affected individuals show specific deficits that do not prevent them from having an independent and fulfilling life. For example, difficulties maintaining focused attention.

Others, however, will require lifelong support to survive, because they do not develop the basic skills necessary for independent living. For example, the ability to walk or feed themselves.

What causes a neurodevelopmental disorder?

Various factors can affect normal brain development, although in many cases the etiology is unknown. Causes can be classified as:

Congenital, for example, genetic mutations or metabolic disorders.
Prenatal, such as nutritional deficiencies or maternal infections.
Perinatal, for example, those arising from complications during birth, especially lack of oxygen (hypoxia).
Postnatal, referring to factors such as traumatic brain injuries, infections like meningitis, or exposure to environmental toxins after birth.

Girl playing with the train - neurodevelopmental disorders

Types of neurodevelopmental disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in its fifth edition (DSM-5) includes the following within neurodevelopmental disorders:

Intellectual disability

Intellectual disability is characterized by global impairment of cognitive processes to such a degree that it prevents the individual from attaining the skills necessary to perform tasks expected for their age. For example, adequate mastery of language or executive functions.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

ASD manifests as difficulties establishing effective social communication, repetitive behavior patterns, and very restricted interests.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

With an estimated prevalence in some studies of 3% to 7% in childhood and 4.4% in working-age adults (Michielsen et al,2012), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder presents with difficulties in maintaining attention and/or hyperactive and impulsive behavior.

Other neurodevelopmental disorders included in the DSM-5:

Specific learning disorders
Communication disorder
Global developmental delay
Unspecified intellectual disability

It is important to bear in mind that more than one neurodevelopmental disorder can be present in the same person. For example, within ASD there is a high prevalence of ADHD and also of intellectual disability.

Treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders

Treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders will largely depend on the type of disorder and the predominant symptoms in each case.

They can essentially be divided into pharmacological therapies and non-pharmacological therapies, the latter being the ones that currently offer the greatest number of options.

Non-pharmacological therapies include behavioral interventions, psychosocial support, and neuropsychological rehabilitation, among other options that stimulate the skills the child has not adequately developed. They also provide the necessary supports to live a full and meaningful life.