Causes and pathogenesis of mental retardation
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Epidemiology
The prevalence of mental retardation among different age groups of the population is largely different, which explains the significance of the criterion of social adaptation in the diagnosis. The maximum values of this indicator are.on the age of 10-19 years, in which the society makes high demands on the cognitive abilities of the population (schooling, call-up for the army service, etc.).
The incidence of mental retardation in the world is 3.4-24.6 per 1000 people.
Causes of mental retardation
Underdevelopment of the brain can be a consequence of the influence of many factors. Only among exogenous hazards is known more than 400 agents, the effect of which during pregnancy can disrupt the processes of embryogenesis. Important pathogenic factors of the perinatal and early postnatal periods are hypoxia, neuroinfections, various somatic diseases. Particularly important in the development of mental retardation are hereditary factors, different in the mechanisms of impact and the nature of manifestations. The emergence of mental underdevelopment is affected by a deficit of sensory stimulation at an early age (mental deprivation).
Pathogenesis of mental retardation
Speaking about the pathogenesis of mental retardation, it is more correct to talk about the pathogenesis of diseases in which one of the symptoms is a violation of brain development. The complexity of this problem is obvious, since even with such a studied disease as Down's disease, the pathogenesis of the actual intellectual defect is not established.
Screening
For early diagnosis of mental retardation due to impaired metabolism, screenings are used. Along with phenylketonuriei, screening can be directed to the detection of homocystinuria, histidemia, "maple syrup" disease, tyrosinemia, galactosemia, lysinemia, mucopolysaccharidosis. A special diet allows you to avoid or significantly reduce the severity of an intellectual defect. Preventive measures include improving care for pregnant women, including obstetrics, prevention of neuroinfections and craniocerebral trauma in young children, and iodine prophylaxis in people living in iodine-deficient areas.
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