Principles of neuroanatomical and neurophysiological changes at autism and Asperger's syndrome

Abstract

Autizam je pervazivni neurološki razvojni poremećaj koji se teško detektira prije treće godine života, a pokazuje nedostatak u verbalnoj komunikaciji, socijalnoj ili emocionaloj uzajamnosti te ograničene i ponavljajuće obrasce ponašanja. Aspergerov sindrom, kao i autizam, također pripada autističnom spektru poremećaja no razlikuje se od ostalih poremećaja po tome što se normalno ili približno normalno razvijaju jezične sposobnosti uz probleme s korištenjem jezika u socijalnim interakcijama, kao i socijalnim neugodnostima, izraženim nedostacima neverbalne ekspresije, idiosinkratizma, opsesivnih interesa i motorne nespretnosti pa je prema tome nešto blaži oblik poremećaja od autizma. Oba ova poremećaja pripadaju već spomenutom skupu poremećaja koje obuhvaća autistični spektar poremećaja, uz Rettov sindrom, dječji disintegrativni poremećaj i PDD NOS (eng. pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified). Ovaj rad je kratki pregled dosadašnjih istraživanja dvaju poremećaja na području neuroanatomije, neurofiziologije i molekularne genetike. Zadnjih 25 godina, provode se intezivna istraživanja na ta tri područja te još uvijek nisu nađeni sigurni uzorci.Autism is pervasive neurodevelopment disorder which is difficult to detect before the third year of life. It shows a lack of verbal communication, social or emotional reciprocity and limited and the repeated patterns of behavior. Asperger's syndrome, like autism, also belongs to autistic spectrum disorder but differs from other disorders because it is normal or nearly normal development of language skills with the problems of using language in social interactions, as well as social inconvenience, lacks non-verbal expressions, idiosincratism, opsessive interests and clumsiness. It is therefore somewhat milder form of the autism. Both of these disorders belong to the set of disorders which includes, already mentioned, autistic spectrum disorder, with Rett's syndrome, children's disintegrative disorder and PDD NOS (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified). This article is a brief overview of previous researches of these two disturbances in the area of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and molecular genetics. In the last 25 years, it is conducted intensive researches on these three areas and still have not found certain patterns