Asperger Syndrome

I was talking with a friend this week about Asperger Syndrome, and she peaked my interest in the cause of the disease. The main cause of the disease is linked to neural activity, although genetics may also play a part. In Asperger patients, there is an abnormal migration of embryonic cells during fetal development that affects brain structure. This, in turn, affects the neural circuits that control thought and behavior. The genetic component of this disease has not yet been linked to a specific gene, however scientists have determined that the disease runs in families. Asperger patients are usually identified by their lack of judgment, unusual facial expressions and repetitive behavior. Overall, they are most affected socially, although adults can lead relatively independent lives. I immediately thought about the chapter in our textbook about nerve tissue and how something as small as a thinning myelin sheath on an axon can have disastrous effects on an individual. As proved by this disease, even neurological abnormalities during fetal development can have lifelong effects.


The information above was taken from the following reference: 
"Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet." National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health, 4 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm>.