Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Scanning Dos and Don'ts: Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Awake Children Aged 3 to 5 Years to Assess Brain Structure and Function
07:31

Scanning Dos and Don'ts: Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Awake Children Aged 3 to 5 Years to Assess Brain Structure and Function

Published on: March 10, 2026

Neurodevelopment of children under 3 years of age with Smith-Magenis syndrome

Pamela L Wolters1, Andrea L Gropman, Staci C Martin

  • 1Medical Illness Counseling Center, Chevy Chase, MD, USA. woltersp@mail.nih.gov

Pediatric Neurology
|September 15, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Early neurodevelopmental assessments reveal moderate to severe delays in cognitive, language, and motor skills for children with Smith-Magenis syndrome. Social skills were average, but toddlers showed more significant delays and autistic behaviors than infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Limited systematic data exists on early neurodevelopmental functioning in Smith-Magenis syndrome.
  • Early identification and intervention are crucial for optimizing outcomes in genetic syndromes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively assess early neurodevelopmental functioning in infants and toddlers with Smith-Magenis syndrome.
  • To identify age-specific developmental trajectories and behavioral characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective multidisciplinary assessments using standardized measures.
  • Evaluated 11 children with Smith-Magenis syndrome under 3 years of age.
  • Exploratory analyses comparing infant and toddler subgroups.

Main Results:

  • The total sample showed moderate to severe delays in cognition, expressive language, and motor skills.
  • Socialization skills were average, outperforming daily living, communication, and motor abilities.
  • Toddlers (2-3 years) exhibited more significant delays and mild-to-moderate autistic behaviors compared to infants (<1 year).

Conclusions:

  • Early neurodevelopmental profiles in Smith-Magenis syndrome vary significantly with age, with toddlers showing greater delays.
  • Combining age groups in research may obscure critical developmental and behavioral differences.
  • Understanding these early characteristics is vital for timely diagnosis and targeted interventions.

More Related Videos

A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy10:02

A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy

Published on: November 3, 2016

Isolation and Culture of Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Spinal Motor Neurons from Prenatal Islmn:GFP Transgenic Mice10:04

Isolation and Culture of Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Spinal Motor Neurons from Prenatal Islmn:GFP Transgenic Mice

Published on: November 12, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue01:15

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...