A Novel Way to Measure and Predict Development: A Heuristic Approach to Facilitate the Early Detection of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
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Peter B Marschik1,2,3, Florian B Pokorny4,5,6, Robert Peharz4,5
1Research Unit iDN-interdisciplinary Developmental Neuroscience, Institute of Physiology, Center for Physiological Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21/5, 8010, Graz, Austria. peter.marschik@medunigraz.at.
Insights
Researchers propose a new
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Early human development research is extensive, yet the early postnatal period for neurodevelopmental disorders remains understudied.
- Neurodevelopmental disorders often manifest later in infancy or childhood, highlighting a critical gap in early detection research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the research gap in early postnatal neurodevelopment concerning neurodevelopmental disorders.
- To propose a dynamic framework for identifying neurofunctional biomarkers in infants and children.
- To introduce the 'Fingerprint Model' for early and accurate detection of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Main Methods:
- Developing a dynamic framework to characterize neurofunctional biomarkers.
- Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach for comprehensive analysis.
- Implementing an automated detection system named 'Fingerprint Model'.
Main Results:
- The proposed 'Fingerprint Model' offers a novel approach to early identification of neurodevelopmental disorders.
- This framework aims to improve early diagnosis and facilitate prospective studies and intervention trials.
- Characterizing specific neurofunctional parameters for distinct neurodevelopmental disorders is achievable.
Conclusions:
- An interdisciplinary approach is crucial for understanding and detecting neurodevelopmental disorders early.
- The 'Fingerprint Model' presents a promising strategy for early detection and intervention in neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Further research and validation of this framework are essential for clinical application.
Purpose Of Review:
Substantial research exists focusing on the various aspects and domains of early human development. However, there is a clear blind spot in early postnatal development when dealing with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially those that manifest themselves clinically only in late infancy or even in childhood.
Recent Findings:
This early developmental period may represent an important timeframe to study these disorders but has historically received far less research attention. We believe that only a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach will enable us to detect and delineate specific parameters for specific neurodevelopmental disorders at a very early age to improve early detection/diagnosis, enable prospective studies and eventually facilitate randomised trials of early intervention. In this article, we propose a dynamic framework for characterising neurofunctional biomarkers associated with specific disorders in the development of infants and children. We have named this automated detection 'Fingerprint Model', suggesting one possible approach to accurately and early identify neurodevelopmental disorders.