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Brain Cells Maturing Quickly Possibly Behind Intellectual Disabilities

New study finds link between acceleration of neuronal development and intellectual disability and autism

A faster-than-normal development of the brain could be a possible reason for humans to develop intellectual disabilities or autism, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The study establishes a link between the acceleration of neuronal development and intellectual disability and autism.

Using stem cells collected from 13 boys diagnosed with autism, including eight boys with macrocephaly (a condition in which the head is abnormally large), the researchers found that the brain cells of these boys matured more quickly than those of typically developing boys. This accelerated development was seen in all of the 11 cortical regions analyzed, regardless of whether they are higher-order or lower-order regions.

The researchers believe that this accelerated development may disrupt the normal formation of neural circuits in the brain, leading to intellectual disability and autism. They hope that their findings will lead to new treatments for these disorders.