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| A fatal genetic disease carried by a dominant gene on chromosome 4 which results in nervous system deterioration. Symptoms generally do not appear until adulthood and include slurred speech, jerky movements, personality changes, and dementia. |
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| A genetic disorder characterized by an inability to metabolize phenylalanine. Without treatment, a child with PKU will become mentally retarded and hyperactive. |
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| A genetic disorder of the red blood cells inherited mostly by people of African and Latino descent. The condition carries less oxygen through the circulatory system. People with this disease have rouble breathing when they exert themselves and often die of kidney failure by adolescence. |
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| A genetic disease characterized by a buildup of mucus in the lungs leading to difficulty breathing and eventual death. The disease is caused by two recessive genes. |
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| A fatal genetic disease caused by a pair of recessive genes which cause nervous system degeneration. Children with this disease normally do not live beyond childhood and typically can trace their ancestry to Jewish relatives from Eastern Europe or French Canadians. |
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| Disorders that are caused by genetic mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, or genes that carry the disorder. |
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| A genetic disorder in children who inherit an extra chromosome on the 21st pair that causes mental retardation. These children also have distinctive facial features and short, stubby limbs. |
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| A sex chromosome abnormality in which males inherit an extra X chromosome(XXY). These males are sterile, develop female sex characteristics, and sometimes have lower than average language skills or some degree of mental retardation. |
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| A sex chromosome abnormality in which females inherit only one X chromosome(XO). These females do not develop secondary sex characteristics, cannot reproduce, and often have specific cognitive deficiencies or some degree of mental retardation. |
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| The term used for babies born before 36 weeks gestation. |
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| sudden infant death syndrome |
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Definition
| The death of an infant during the first year from respiratory failure that has no identifiable cause and usually occurs when the infant is sleeping. Research has identified a correlation with maternal smoking. |
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| A collection of symptoms including facial abnormalities, small head size, and mental retardation seen in children whose mothers consumed alcohol in large quantities while pregnant. |
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| A prescription drug used by many women in the 1950s to control nausea during pregnancy. The drug caused birth defects in limbs, feet, hands, or ears depending on when the drug was used during pregnancy. |
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| A disease that if contracted by a pregnant woman, particularly in the first 3 to 4 months of pregnancy, causes birth defects including blindness, deafness, and mental retardation. |
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| A sexually transmitted disease that is easily treatable with penicillin. Syphilis organisms can pass through the placenta of an infected pregnant woman after 18 weeks gestation and cause the fetus to be infected, miscarried, or stillborn. |
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| AIDS(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) |
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Definition
| A fatal disease caused by the HIV virus that results in the deterioration of the body’s immune system. Infected women can pass the disease to offspring prenatally through the placenta, during birth if there is an exchange of her blood with the baby or through breast milk. The transmission of AIDS to newborns has decreased with the use of new medications and prevention techniques. |
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| A factor in blood that is present or absent in people. Those who do not have the Rh factor are called RH- and those who do have the factor are called RH+. If a pregnant woman and her fetus are not compatible(both RH- or both RH+), the mother’s immune system will attack the fetus as it would any foreign body. In the past this was a common cause of mental retardation, but damage to the fetus is prevented today by an inoculation given to a pregnant woman to prevent the immune response. |
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| A condition caused by a depleted supply of oxygen to the fetus during labor and delivery. This is normally due to a problem with the umbilical cord as the fetus is making its way down the vaginal canal. If not corrected, the lack of oxygen may cause brain damage. The damage will depend on the length of time and the amount of oxygen depravation. |
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| A neurological disorder caused by anoxia during birth that is characterized by lack of muscle control and coordination. |
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| Lower than average intelligence caused by many factors which varies in severity and degree of impairment in living. |
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| An application of operant conditioning used in educational and clinical settings. An individual’s behavior is shaped using positive reinforcement. This technique has been successful when used with children with autism spectrum disorders and severe mental retardation. |
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| A learning disability that affects children’s ability to read. Many dyslexics have trouble discriminating speech sounds. |
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ADHD
(attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) |
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Definition
A disorder characterized by attention difficulties, impulsivity, and excessive motor behavior.
- inattention
- impulsivity
- hyperactivity |
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| Aggressive, violent, and or criminal behavior. Influences from the family, school, and neighborhood environments have been linked to antisocial behavior. |
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| An eating disorder characterized by exceptionally low body weight and an unrealistic fear of gaining weight. |
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| An eating disorder characterized by binge eating and then purging through vomiting and or the use of laxatives. |
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post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) |
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Definition
| A psychological disorder characterized by flashbacks to a traumatic event, and feelings of anxiety and helplessness. This is often experienced in victims of crime, sexual abuse, and those who have experienced military combat. |
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| An impairment in cognitive functioning in aging individuals which can be acute or chronic. There are many causes of dementia including brain disease and drug interaction effects. |
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| A disease, characterized by neurofibrillary tangles and plaques in the brain of some aging individuals, that is the leading cause of dementia. Symptoms include loss of cognitive functioning, impaired judgement, and eventual death. |
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Definition
| Abnormal neural structures found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. |
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Definition
| Abnormal masses of toxic neural material in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. |
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