Research: How Can Early, Intensive Training Help a Genetic Disorder?

Authored by Altemeier, WA, and Altemeier LE in Pediatric Annals, Volume 38, Issue 3, p. 167-172, (2009).

Article summary (posted Aug 12, 2009):

Therapy during the early years of brain development may help children with autism develop more brain connections and better brain function.

In this report, the authors described how therapy during early childhood may help brain development. Therapy can help even if autism is a genetic disorder. The authors discussed how therapy can help neurons grow and connect in children with autism. This is because neurons connect and thrive when used, and fade away when not used. The authors describe the science behind the ability of the brain to grow and change. In this way, autism may be a result of "nature" from the person's genes, and "nurture" from therapy and the world the child grows in.

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autism, fade, genetic, intensive, neurons, nurture, pediatric, plasticity, science, therapy
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